Literary Club Discussion... No Romance, Please!

[wyntrout]

Dang! I/We were getting a little carried away on another thread.

Here's a space for discussing books and authors.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I think that I got my first Dale Brown book, The Flight of an Old Dog with a computer game based on the book. I don't remember what it was about... just the book, which started a whole series. It got to be more like science fiction, but, Hey! That's the kind of times we live in now, though we now have to stand at the side of the road and thumb rides up to the space station from our "good buddies" the Rooskies. That seems to fly in the face of a strong national defense posture... what next begging the Chinese??

Wynn:)

[gb6491]

My tastes run to shop manuals and stuff by Ludlum, Clavell, Michener, and Yoshikawa.
I will also admit a fondness for Clancy, L'Amour, Heinlein, Laumer, and Kipling.
The last book I read was "Nop's Trials".
Regards,
Greg

[Bawanna]

L'Amour. Now we're talking literary. I've read every one of his books at least 4 times and some several more than that.

My son had a teacher that wouldn't let him do a book report on a L'Amour book. Said they were all the same and had no literary value. I was in class the next morning with several selections all very different. I left them for her to read.

Kid had to do another book but she did tell me when she returned the books that in the future she would allow them.

I need to reread again, already forgetting titles. I liked the one about the Indian pilot shot down to get at his top secret plane. Good read that one was.

[gb6491]

I believe that is "The Last of the Breed" Bawanna
Regards,
Greg

[ripley16]

I'm partial to John le Carré, great spy plots.
John Paterson for some good murder mystery.
Elmore Leonard's always fun to read.
Clancy for his cold war thrillers.
Lawrence Sanders for fun and grins... a funny guy.
John Grisham was good at first. A Painted House is fun.
With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge should be required reading in high school.

[wyntrout]

I believe our nation is more about the future of mankind... not just tearing down the achievers and creating a larger "entitlement-class" of welfare recipients whose votes have been bought by politicians who promise them even more goodies wrested from the "evil rich". What's going to happen when we run out of "evil rich" or entrepreneurs or capitalists who take risks with their own money and create jobs?? The welfare recipients shouldn't even get to vote. There is no RIGHT to vote in the federal elections... that should be only for TAX-Paying CITIZENS!

Dang! getting up on the soapbox again... was trying to talk about science-fiction... about how our future is tied to the stars... if we ever get there. A wayward asteroid could take out the only home of humans... just about any day now... and it would be nice if the U.S.A. had a viable toehold somewhere else in the universe, instead of bogged down here trying to implement "social justice" and other foolish ideas or nonsense that could spell the demise of REAL "freedom loving Americans".

Our forefathers got on leaky, flimsy ships and sailed off into the unknown to try to find a haven from tyrannical governments and religions... or combinations thereof, and when they did win their freedom, they sought to write safeguards into the founding documents of this new nation to protect the citizens against a future government attempting to become too strong and enslaving the PEOPLE. Unfortunately, that's what we have happening now... the unwashed masses willing to give up freedom for everyone for the promise of "security" for themselves, with no regard to the next generations being wards of the ever-growing and all-powerful Federal Government.

Dang... BOOKS... military fiction... science fiction... and favorite authors, etc! Got to stay off the soapbox! I'm trying to steer toward the science fiction equivalent of what our forefathers did, but towards the stars!

Wynn:rolleyes:

[Bawanna]

I believe that is "The Last of the Breed" Bawanna
Regards,
Greg

That's it you got a way better memory than me. I loved the letter with the scalp. In my life I shall take 2, this is the first. Makes a man sweat I bet.

That's the book that convinced the teacher too. A little out of the typical cowboy western read. I still don't stare into a campfire cause of that man too.

[wyntrout]

The Last of the Breed (1986) is the the most memorable book of Louis L'Amour that I've read... maybe the only one, though... I wound up with TWO copies, somehow.

I grew up reading my mother's Zane Gray novels, and the hero had a way of letting the evil Simon Legree, or Simon Girty... something like that... letting him get up or get away to kill again... even his own entire family one time. Damn! That used to piss me off as a kid... don't let him get up... finish him off! It ain't about fair, 'cause every time the hero put his gun aside, the evil guy would pull out another weapon and the good guy was almost killed... left for dead and the evil one went off to continue his killing spree. GRRR!

Wynn:)

[gb6491]

Darn Wynn, Heinlien's "Starship Troopers" echoes just about everything in your post #7.
regards,
Greg

[OldLincoln]

My mother was a L'Amour fan. She gave her collection to my sister who after reading them gave it to my son. He is a bit single minded at times and liked them so much he filled in the rest of the collection. I'll have to ask him again, but I believe he has them all. Let's put it this way, he hasn't ever offered to loan me any. Although I may ask.

I'm with Wynn having Old Dog be the first Dale Brown book I read. If I run across any of his at my new "cheap used book" place I just grab them. I tried reading a Michener book but it was tiresome so I put it down.

As for science fiction, I do like some. I enjoyed "Saucer" by Steve Coonts. It was like a comic book without pictures that you read in an afternoon but it held interest. Probably because it fed into some of my curiosities about mankind's distant past.

[gb6491]

I need to add James Fenimore Cooper to my list above; for some reason Bawanna's "I still don't stare into campfire's because of that man..." reminded me of him.
Regards,
Greg

[wyntrout]

I think that should be a requirement for full citizenship... honorable military service... and certainly a requirement for voting! Leeches and hangers-on shouldn't be deciding the leadership and fate of our great nation, based on who promises them the most stuff take from the "productive class".

People usually have a lot of choices in life and too many made the choice to live off the sweat of others and pop out more mouths for the rest of us to pay to feed to pop out more babies....

JMHO

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

I don't remember the author or anything but anyone ever read the Ashes series? I think there was 5 or more in the series.

Out of the Ashes, Alone in the Ashes. It was like a nuclear attack, and there was cyber chambers, and coming back 5000 years later. Pretty good. I'd like to find them again and read em. It was a long long time ago.

There was a similar series with John Thomas Rourke as the main character but I can't even remember any of the titles in that one. It was a survivalist type scenario also.

[wyntrout]

After reading about 20 of those, there seemed to be a common thread there... good, but just the same stuff over and over and over... never ending bad guys. I finally gave up on those about 10-12 years or so ago. he does westerns, too:

http://www.williamjohnstone.net/

Wynn

[gb6491]

... I tried reading a Michener book but it was tiresome so I put it down.
LOL, that sounds like "Centennial". I probably wouldn't have finished it if not for a long stay in the Yokosuka Naval Hospital. I agree that the early chapters of a lot of his work is tiresome reading. "Caravans" is an exception if you are ever of a mind to try him again.
Regards,
Greg

[HadEmAll]

01 OUT OF THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786002891

02 FIRE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821713108

03 ANARCHY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821713876 Pinnacle, 1984, c1997, 432p.

04 BLOOD IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786004460

05 ALONE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821717219

06 WIND IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821732579 Pinnacle, 1986, c1998, 363p.


07 SMOKE FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821721917

08 DANGER IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821723111

09 VALOR IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821724843 Pinnacle, 1988, c1998, 427p.

10 TRAPPED IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821726269 Pinnacle, 1989, c1998, 317p.


11 DEATH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821729225 Pinnacle, 1990, c1998, 383p.

12 SURVIVAL IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821730983 Pinnacle, 1990, c1999, 320p.

13 FURY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786006358 Pinnacle, 1991, c1999, 350p.

14 COURAGE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821735748

15 TERROR IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 082173749X Pinnacle, 1992, c1999, 384p.

16 VENGEANCE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821740660 Pinnacle, 1993, 352p.

17 BATTLE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821741616

18 FLAMES FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821742639 Pinnacle, 1993, 349p.

19 TREASON IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821745212 Pinnacle, 1994, c2000, 350p.

20 D-DAY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821746502

21 BETRAYAL IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821752650 Pinnacle, 1996, 304p.

22 CHAOS IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786003413

23 SLAUGHTER IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786003804 Pinnacle, 1997, 287p.

24 JUDGEMENT IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 078600438X Pinnacle, 1997, 303p.

25 AMBUSH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786004819 Pinnacle, 1998, 299p.

26 TRIUMPH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786005815

27 HATRED IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786006161 Pinnacle, 1999, 300p.

28 STANDOFF IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786010150 Pinnacle, 1999, 318p.

29 CRISIS IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786010533 Pinnacle, 2000, 319p.

30 TYRANNY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786011467

31 WARRIORS FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786011904 Pinnacle, 2001, 311p.

32 DESTINY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 078601332X Pinnacle, 2001, 317p.

33 ENEMY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786013338 Pinnacle, c2002.

34 ESCAPE FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786014407 Pinnacle, cSept 2003

Glad you mentioned them. I've got most of them anyway, out in the garage in cardboard boxes. Going to dig them out tonight and see if I have them all. Great reading, especially for those of us interested in firearms.

I'm getting a little tired of e-reading on my Sony. I miss the smell and feel of good old paper and print.

[Bawanna]

01 OUT OF THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786002891

02 FIRE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821713108

03 ANARCHY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821713876 Pinnacle, 1984, c1997, 432p.

04 BLOOD IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786004460

05 ALONE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821717219

06 WIND IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821732579 Pinnacle, 1986, c1998, 363p.


07 SMOKE FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821721917

08 DANGER IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821723111

09 VALOR IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821724843 Pinnacle, 1988, c1998, 427p.

10 TRAPPED IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821726269 Pinnacle, 1989, c1998, 317p.


11 DEATH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821729225 Pinnacle, 1990, c1998, 383p.

12 SURVIVAL IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821730983 Pinnacle, 1990, c1999, 320p.

13 FURY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786006358 Pinnacle, 1991, c1999, 350p.

14 COURAGE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821735748

15 TERROR IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 082173749X Pinnacle, 1992, c1999, 384p.

16 VENGEANCE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821740660 Pinnacle, 1993, 352p.

17 BATTLE IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821741616

18 FLAMES FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821742639 Pinnacle, 1993, 349p.

19 TREASON IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821745212 Pinnacle, 1994, c2000, 350p.

20 D-DAY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821746502

21 BETRAYAL IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0821752650 Pinnacle, 1996, 304p.

22 CHAOS IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786003413

23 SLAUGHTER IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786003804 Pinnacle, 1997, 287p.

24 JUDGEMENT IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 078600438X Pinnacle, 1997, 303p.

25 AMBUSH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786004819 Pinnacle, 1998, 299p.

26 TRIUMPH IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786005815

27 HATRED IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786006161 Pinnacle, 1999, 300p.

28 STANDOFF IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786010150 Pinnacle, 1999, 318p.

29 CRISIS IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786010533 Pinnacle, 2000, 319p.

30 TYRANNY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786011467

31 WARRIORS FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786011904 Pinnacle, 2001, 311p.

32 DESTINY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 078601332X Pinnacle, 2001, 317p.

33 ENEMY IN THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786013338 Pinnacle, c2002.

34 ESCAPE FROM THE ASHES
ISBN# 0786014407 Pinnacle, cSept 2003

Glad you mentioned them. I've got most of them anyway, out in the garage in cardboard boxes. Going to dig them out tonight and see if I have them all. Great reading, especially for those of us interested in firearms.

I'm getting a little tired of e-reading on my Sony. I miss the smell and feel of good old paper and print.

I had no idea there were so many in the series. A fella I worked with years ago loaned me numerous books, he was a ravenous reader and had an outstanding memory, he could remember parts he hadn't read in years. Kind of surprising since he was also heavily into Wacky Backy intake with I thought messed with memory.
I see many of them are still available at the site Wynn posted. Would take several hundred dollars to get all the ones still available. No scheduled for reprint and have gone collector status, you might be sitting on a gold mine in your garage.
Be nice to read the whole shebang in the correct order.

[gb6491]

I don't remember the author or anything but anyone ever read the Ashes series? I think there was 5 or more in the series.

Out of the Ashes, Alone in the Ashes. It was like a nuclear attack, and there was cyber chambers, and coming back 5000 years later. Pretty good. I'd like to find them again and read em. It was a long long time ago.

There was a similar series with John Thomas Rourke as the main character but I can't even remember any of the titles in that one. It was a survivalist type scenario also.

Hmm, anybody read "The Turner Diaries" or King's "the Dark Tower " series?
Regards,
Greg

[melissa5]

My tastes run to shop manuals and stuff by Ludlum, Clavell, Michener, and Yoshikawa.
I will also admit a fondness for Clancy, L'Amour, Heinlein, Laumer, and Kipling.
The last book I read was "Nop's Trials".
Regards,
Greg

I used to love Clancy until he started taking the Lord's name in vain on just about every page. I exaggerate but you get the picture. The same goes for Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell. I still read John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks, but most of my reading is Christian fiction.

[melissa5]

I think that should be a requirement for full citizenship... honorable military service... and certainly a requirement for voting! Leeches and hangers-on shouldn't be deciding the leadership and fate of our great nation, based on who promises them the most stuff take from the "productive class".

People usually have a lot of choices in life and too many made the choice to live off the sweat of others and pop out more mouths for the rest of us to pay to feed to pop out more babies....

JMHO

Wynn:)

Surely you've read "Atlas Shrugged". If not, you would like it.

[HadEmAll]

I had no idea there were so many in the series. A fella I worked with years ago loaned me numerous books, he was a ravenous reader and had an outstanding memory, he could remember parts he hadn't read in years. Kind of surprising since he was also heavily into Wacky Backy intake with I thought messed with memory.
I see many of them are still available at the site Wynn posted. Would take several hundred dollars to get all the ones still available. No scheduled for reprint and have gone collector status, you might be sitting on a gold mine in your garage.
Be nice to read the whole shebang in the correct order.

As wyntrout pointed out, they were a good read, but it did get to be almost too much of the same if you didn't break it up by reading something different in between on occasion.

But the L'amour books were the same for me. I read them all, but you can only take so many "I'm broad in the shoulders, narrow in the hip, been working like a man since I was 12" openings before you've got to get some variety.

My "Ashes" series are in all worn paperback format, corners bent, never a thought to keeping them looking new, and all used when I bought them. Somebody sold the series to HalfPriceBooks, and that's how I acquired them.

Wonder if there was or ever would be any translation to ebook format for the series?

[Bill K]

A Look at Life from a Deer Stand: Hunting for the Meaning of Life [Paperback]
Steve Chapman (Author). This is the very last book I've read. If your not a Christian it'd probably read like a lot of nonsense to you. I think you also need to be or have been a bowhunter to truly get the most out of the book. Reading it on stand makes it particulary moving.

[jeepster09]

I read a great book awhile back...
An Old Man and his Harley, a true story about a man who re-rode his dad's trip accross the USA. Part of his family was a famous WW2 Ace who led the Black Sheep Squadron over seas. The story goes back and forth about training for air combat to the Harley ride his dad did from the New York Worlds Fair to the west coast version at the same time. GREAT BOOK I highly reccommend. They also did a tv show based off him called BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP with Pappy Boyington.

http://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Harley-Through-Fathers/dp/1595551808


Book review here:

http://rossputin.com/blog/index.php/book-review-the-old-man-and-the-harley

[jeepster09]

Another recent book someone here recommended was "One Second After", thank you to who ever it was....good book.

[Thunder71]

Odd Thomas series - Dean Koontz

[melissa5]

Another recent book someone here recommended was "One Second After", thank you to who ever it was....good book.

I've been meaning to read that one. An EMP is relevant to my interests.

[wyntrout]

I like realism and prefer to see adult language used as it really is... not censored. You've noticed that I use "dang" a lot and my wife thinks I use stronger stuff too often. I can appreciate your concern and you do have the choice to read or watch what you want, but my worry is we have all of this PC... "political correctness" crap and then religious censorship, what are we left with? I'm an adult and use a lot of the words or phrases... to excess too often, but that's part of our freedoms... my freedom to express myself and yours to avoid what you don't like to hear, see, or read. Some comedians... male and female use profanity way too much... pretty much their only "schtick" in support of their real lack of comedy... using the extreme naughtiness factor. Trying to watch something like that that is being bleeped, is pretty ridiculous... unwatchable.
The Sopranos is a good example of an award-winning series that won wide acclaim... we loved it, but to watch it "sanitized" would have been sickening... so much would have to be "bleeped" that it would be incomprehensible and so unnatural... and would have been unwatchable for me. Thankfully, I was able to rent or buy in some cases the unaltered versions.
I notice that several people have Bible phrases and the like in their signatures and I've kind of rolled my eyes, but the world is comprised of many people and you have to accept everyone... within reason. I think the topics and language here get too carried away at times and shudder, wondering when it will cease... like the discussions of Mrs. Moon... Kahr Founder and CEO's wife... pretty disrespectful to me.
Anyhow, there are a lot of good writers and good literature out there and I hope that you won't let a few "bad words" keep you from reading and "enriching" your life.

I'm getting way too long-winded and Wifey wants to watch "Dexter", our favorite program. I must cut this short and I hope that I haven't offended you, Melissa. I respect you as a woman and a valuable member of our forum and don't want to make you feel unwelcome. Our group is enriched by quite a variety of members and I value your contributions greatly.

Wynn:)

[melissa5]

I'm not offended, Wynn. I'm not a prude, but as a Christian, I decided not to support those authors that take the Lord's name in vain. I see absolutely no reason for it. Also, I hate political correctness and think it is engineered to keep people from speaking their minds.

[Bawanna]

Did somebody call?

[melissa5]

Did somebody call?

Hello dear! Do you have a whole collection of Louis L?

[Bawanna]

Hello dear! Do you have a whole collection of Louis L?

I do. Actually I got almost two. I had most and my departed dad left me his more complete collection.

I thought you were looking for someone who spoke non PC. That would be me.

I gotta work a deal with Hademall and get a library system going on that ashes series he's got.

[wyntrout]

It was probably I who recommended One Second After. As soon as I heard about the book... on Neil Boortz' show, I ordered the book from Amazon.com, as I do all of the books I can't wait to get. I think he was talking to Newt Gingrich about the book and how true it was the most probable future cause of a real "holocaust". Newt wrote the forward in the book. It's a real problem and several of our enemies already have the capability and Iran is close to their own bomb. I think that they have sufficient rocket scientists to get a nuke a few hundred miles into the air and set one off close enough to do a lot of damage to our country. One Second After presents a very credible and nightmarish possible future, if these rogue states are allowed to continue on their present courses.:eek:

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

Surely you've read "Atlas Shrugged". If not, you would like it.

Don't read Atlas Shrugged - it will just make you mad. I read it back in the fifties and I still get angry every time I look toward Washington.

[wyntrout]

Well, this wasn't a bad start for a literary "forum". Reading has always been at the top of the list for my hobbies. I don't know if I would realize the same feelings with one of those tablets like the Kindle.

In 2002 David Weber put everything he had in print in a CD and included it in his 10th Honor Harrington book War of Honor.
http://www.amazon.com/War-Honor-Harrington-10/dp/0743435451

I had read them all... and have them all. I could use those to try reading them electronically, but my LG Thrive is just not big enough to present a whole page in readable size and sitting in front of a monitor is not comfortable. I thought about getting one of those Barnes and Noble Color Nooks, but I spend enough... not really... but too much on my shooting and guns... a scary amount of money, if I think about it too much!
I really like paperbacks because they don't hurt so much if I fall asleep reading in bed. Those Clancy novels and David Weber hard cover books are dangerous!:eek:

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I like realism and prefer to see adult language used as it really is... not censored. You've noticed that I use "dang" a lot and my wife thinks I use stronger stuff too often. I can appreciate your concern and you do have the choice to read or watch what you want, but my worry is we have all of this PC... "political correctness" crap and then religious censorship, what are we left with? I'm an adult and use a lot of the words or phrases... to excess too often, but that's part of our freedoms... my freedom to express myself and yours to avoid what you don't like to hear, see, or read. Some comedians... male and female use profanity way too much... pretty much their only "schtick" in support of their real lack of comedy... using the extreme naughtiness factor. Trying to watch something like that that is being bleeped, is pretty ridiculous... unwatchable.
The Sopranos is a good example of an award-winning series that won wide acclaim... we loved it, but to watch it "sanitized" would have been sickening... so much would have to be "bleeped" that it would be incomprehensible and so unnatural... and would have been unwatchable for me. Thankfully, I was able to rent or buy in some cases the unaltered versions.
I notice that several people have Bible phrases and the like in their signatures and I've kind of rolled my eyes, but the world is comprised of many people and you have to accept everyone... within reason. I think the topics and language here get too carried away at times and shudder, wondering when it will cease... like the discussions of Mrs. Moon... Kahr Founder and CEO's wife... pretty disrespectful to me.
Anyhow, there are a lot of good writers and good literature out there and I hope that you won't let a few "bad words" keep you from reading and "enriching" your life.

I'm getting way too long-winded and Wifey wants to watch "Dexter", our favorite program. I must cut this short and I hope that I haven't offended you, Melissa. I respect you as a woman and a valuable member of our forum and don't want to make you feel unwelcome. Our group is enriched by quite a variety of members and I value your contributions greatly.

Wynn:)

I guess I'll have to take the opposing view on this one. Obviously I've read books with offensive language, but I don't like it. Somehow it's even worse in movies, so I never watch movies. I'm about as un-PC as anyone you will find, but I don't see this as a PC issue. Personally, I've always considered the use of profanity as an indication of a poor vocabulary.

[wyntrout]

I was going to say something about that because I must have read Atlas Shrugged, but I just can't remember. I've heard them talking about that recently on Neal Boortz' Show... about how relevant it is to our present situation. That's not unique, though. This scenario has been attempted many times... at least once here!
I couldn't believe some of the blogs and write ups from Russia, even, about how are country was starting down the same path Russia had gone down and we could look forward to the same misery they had and still have in some respects. History does repeat itself, especially hard on those who don't bother to learn history.

This 1934 cartoon below that I ran across is just unbelievable, and the other graphic, as well.


Wynn:)

[Vanzpp]

I just finished "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder. Great novel!

[Vanzpp]

Don't read Atlas Shrugged - it will just make you mad. I read it back in the fifties and I still get angry every time I look toward Washington.

I tried to read it. I got about 50 pages into it and quit. That woman is a horrible writer.

If I want to read about the glorification of the will and sublimation of the instincts, I'll read Nietzsche. At least Nietzsche, besides being a brilliant philosopher, was a good writer.

[mywytefeet]

One of my favorite books I just read was "The Go-Giver." Book kinda just made me smile with every turn of the page. A quick read that's worth the few bucks the book costs.

[CJB]

May I respectfully submit -

Any of the J.M. Pyne stories by Lucian Cary. All excellent, and informative.

J.M. Pyne is the fictional version of Harry M Pope - of Pope barrel fame. Cary knew Pope, who got him started in target rifle shooting, and general gun crankery. Cary put his knowledge of machinery, and shooting, and vast knowledge of ammunition, into these works. There are twists and turns that are steered by things technical, but Cary does a good job of explaining everything - accurately too I might add - for the lay reader.

Cary, has some especially good short stories, and one novella. Many appeared in full, or serialized in "The Saturday Evening Post". Most of the stories are set in the 20's through the mid 40's, but are really timeless.

Should be required reading, imho, for all gun nuts.

Guy Lautard put all of the stories (and a few non Pyne shooting tales by Cary) into one EXCELLENT compilation. I get a few and give them for Christmas each year.

http://www.lautard.com/pyne.htm

Nothing in it for me, I'm just thrilled to read and re-read those great stories.

[gunnery]

May I respectfully add my own memoir for our forum's members. The title of my book is: "More Than Muscles" which I wrote myself. Hopefully, as an active member of this forum who reads our forum daily and has bought and sold firearms through Kahrtalk, our mutual interests may be entertaining and informative.
Below are links to my book.
Please feel free to give me feedback once you read it.


More than Muscles: Mr. USA-Mind, Motives, Mentors
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HEJ7E1ZbL._SS500_.jpg




http://www.amazon.com/More-than-Muscles-USA-Mind-Motives/dp/1450252435/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_h?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317732583&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/more-than-muscles-joseph-troccoli/1100370266?ean=9781450252416&itm=1&usri=more%2bthan%2bmuscles

[melissa5]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HEJ7E1ZbL._SS500_.jpg[/CENTER]




Hey Barth! Do you look like this guy?

[wyntrout]

This is an interesting read...Gun Quotations:

http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/famous-gun-quotes

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I tried to read it. I got about 50 pages into it and quit. That woman is a horrible writer.

If I want to read about the glorification of the will and sublimation of the instincts, I'll read Nietzsche. At least Nietzsche, besides being a brilliant philosopher, was a good writer.

There are quite a few million Ayn Rand reader that would disagree with you including me.

Nietzsche was mentally ill and his writings reflected it.

[ripley16]

There are quite a few million Ayn Rand reader that would disagree with you including me.



Some of her lesser works can be difficult to read because she uses awkward styles. A good example of this is Anthem. You have to get into the rhythem of the vernacular she invents to read smoothly and it takes a while, or at least did for me.

[O'Dell]

I used to love Clancy until he started taking the Lord's name in vain on just about every page. I exaggerate but you get the picture. The same goes for Stephen King and Patricia Cornwell. I still read John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks, but most of my reading is Christian fiction.

I've never read King or Grisham, although I do like legal mysteries. I really tried to like Cornwell because of all the support she's given to the science of forensics, [my brother took a course she sponsored at UT] but I just couldn't get into it. I'm guessing you've read the "Left Behind" series. I think I hit them all plus another series by Joel Rosenburg. I just picked up a book at the library today called "The End" by J L Robb. He credits Hal Lindsey for the inspiration. He got the Title from Matthew 24:14 - .......and then the end will come.

[O'Dell]

Some of her lesser works can be difficult to read because she uses awkward styles. A good example of this is Anthem. You have to get into the rhythem of the vernacular she invints to read smoothly and it takes a while, or at least did for me.

Agreed, but I always attributed it to the fact that her native language was Russian.

[melissa5]

Yeah, I've read the Left Behind series. Another good series about an EMP is by Terri Blackstock. Michael Crichton is another author that I enjoy.

[O'Dell]

Yeah, I've read the Left Behind series. Another good series about an EMP is by Terri Blackstock. Michael Crichton is another author that I enjoy.

I've heard of EMP but haven't read any. I have read most of Crichton's books, starting with The Andromeda Strain back in the 60's. Being a pilot, my favorite was Airframe, but I liked most of them especially Timeline and Sphere. I was sorry when he died 2 or 3 years ago - there won't be any more.

[melissa5]

I have read most of Crichton's books, starting with The Andromeda Strain back in the 60's. Being a pilot, my favorite was Airframe, but I liked most of them especially Timeline and Sphere.

Yes, those were really good. There's still a few that I haven't read yet. I also like his movies - Westworld, Coma, and The Andromeda Strain (the original...not the remake).

[OldLincoln]

I was amazed at the Left Behind series. I expected more of a Billy book but it was fast moving exciting and kept me wanting the next one.

Just started Cussler's "The Navigator" today.

[LaP]

I just started a crusade to read aome of the classics that I promised I'd read when I got older.
Well, that time has come.

I just finished Hemmingway's A FAREWELL TO ARMS.
Very good perspective of the brutality and insanity of World War I.

[wyntrout]

Wow! I can't believe there is this much information on the subject... really much more. I didn't even recall some of these tests!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse

Wynn:hippie:

[Vanzpp]

Nietzsche was mentally ill and his writings reflected it.

Haha!! Not quite. Nietzsche's insanity didn't incapacitate him until after he wrote all of his great works. And his insanity was caused by syphilis. He was an ambulance orderly during WWI and it is assumed that he got his infection through an open cut and exposure to someone else's wound.

The guy lived the life of a monk, so it's possible (but unlikely) he contracted syphilis through sexual contact.

Have you ever read Nietzsche? I didn't think so.

Word to the wise. Read Walter Kaufmann's "Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist" before you cast aspersions on his sanity.

http://www.amazon.com/Nietzsche-Philosopher-Psychologist-Walter-Kaufmann/dp/0691019835/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317787520&sr=1-1

Nietzsche was the greatest philosopher of the 19th century. No one, not even folks who might find his views abhorrent, disagrees with this observation. To assert otherwise displays ignorance, nothing more.

Rand is garbage. She stole all her ideas from Nietzsche and trashed them up for American audiences. It's ironic that she loathed the "mob" when she owes her success to pandering to the same mob she claimed to despise.

[Vanzpp]

I just started a crusade to read aome of the classics that I promised I'd read when I got older.
Well, that time has come.

I just finished Hemmingway's A FAREWELL TO ARMS.
Very good perspective of the brutality and insanity of World War I.

Excellent book! Have you read "The Old Man And the Sea"? You'll like it if you enjoy Hemingway.

[OldLincoln]

It's odd and sounds strange, but I read Old Man and Sea but didn't really appreciate it until I finished. Then I pondered the struggle and loss and became fascinated. In a way the movie "Cast Away" staring Tom Hanks reminds me of that book.

[ripley16]

Yes, those were really good. There's still a few that I haven't read yet. I also like his movies - Westworld, Coma, and The Andromeda Strain (the original...not the remake).

Perhaps's Crichton's best movie was the remake of "The Great Train Robbery" starring Sean Connery.

Of course Connery's best work was Zardoz. :cheer2:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b154/dhmac/connery-zardoz.jpg
Love the boots and diaper. :o
:D

[LaP]

Oh, Mister Bond...James Bond. Say it ain't so.:eek:

[O'Dell]

Have you ever read Nietzsche? I didn't think so.

Yes, when I was young, naive, and impressible and even then I didn't agree with him and I certainly don't now.





Rand is garbage. She stole all her ideas from Nietzsche and trashed them up for American audiences. It's ironic that she loathed the "mob" when she owes her success to pandering to the same mob she claimed to despise.

Right! From someone who read 50 pages you've certainly formed a lot of opinions. Just go read your Nietzsche and feel all intellectual and I won't bother you again - I hope you return the favor.

[Bawanna]

Everyone put your goggles in place, I'm gonna call for an airstrike of flame retardant foam just to be safe here. It's actually marangue, the same stuff you put on top of a lemon pie so perfectly fine to eat the stuff waller around in it, have fun with it.

I found one of my copies of Last of the Breed last night so I'm gonna read it again for the 4th time. I hate surprises.

:music: Peace/out

[wyntrout]

I had to flip through it and see about the scalp... first page and then the last page... took me a long time going back and forth... until I looked at the last pages! :rolleyes:

I love well written survival stories like the Last of the Breed. I had to read more than a few pages when I ran across some passages.:)

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

Everyone put your goggles in place, I'm gonna call for an airstrike of flame retardant foam just to be safe here. It's actually marangue, the same stuff you put on top of a lemon pie so perfectly fine to eat the stuff waller around in it, have fun with it.

I found one of my copies of Last of the Breed last night so I'm gonna read it again for the 4th time. I hate surprises.

:music: Peace/out

Bawanna, are you saying I'm "crusty"? I seem to remember that word from a recent thread.

[Bawanna]

Bawanna, are you saying I'm "crusty"? I seem to remember that word from a recent thread.

Now would I go and say something like that. I'm think not gonna happen. Slightly crisp perhaps but not crusty.

[Vanzpp]

Right! From someone who read 50 pages you've certainly formed a lot of opinions. Just go read your Nietzsche and feel all intellectual and I won't bother you again - I hope you return the favor.

Actually, I did read Rand's book "Philosophy:Who Needs It" in its entirety. That's when I realized she was just warmed-over Nietzsche.

Her fiction is trash. No need to read her fiction to form an opinion on her philosophy.

However, I'm puzzled that you would embrace Rand but dislike Nietzsche. Nietzsche was against religion (especially Christianity) just like Rand was; Nietzsche was against pity, just like Rand was (although Rand tweaked it a little bit, calling it altruism); Nietzsche loathed the mob and mob values, just like Rand did; Nietzsche loathed socialism, just like Rand did; Nietzsche wanted a re-evaluation of all values according to physical and mental strength, just like Rand did.....

[OldLincoln]

Wow, Vanzpp, you may not realize it but you come across quite brash and harsh. I understand you don't care for Rand, but to say her work is trash only incites others who like her to defend her work. That's very inflammatory and this forum doesn't lean toward that sort of thing. Perhaps you might say you disagree with her work without disparaging it. There's a lot of room for disagreement without lighting fires.

[jocko]

heh can I join the litearary club. I am a devote reader of Playboy and hustler . I occasionally read HOG tales. My attention span is very short though as is the rest of myself. I have read annie gets ur gun off a few times, course never meet her but want to. what are the dues. I go to church often, well let me rephrase that, I go buy it often on my way to priciilla's.

[Vanzpp]

Wow, Vanzpp, you may not realize it but you come across quite brash and harsh. I understand you don't care for Rand, but to say her work is trash only incites others who like her to defend her work. That's very inflammatory and this forum doesn't lean toward that sort of thing. Perhaps you might say you disagree with her work without disparaging it. There's a lot of room for disagreement without lighting fires.

Ok...I don't like her. I'll leave it at that.

[Vanzpp]

heh can I join the litearary club. I am a devote reader of Playboy and hustler .

I haven't looked at a Hustler since my friend found his dad's copy stashed underneath a pile of magazines in, get this, the family living room. :D Man, that was back in 1980 or thereabouts.

Is it still hardcore, or has Larry cleaned things up a little bit?

[jocko]

whats hardcore????

A dead deer with an arrow sticking out of its heart to some would be hard core. to me just a "nice shot".

[Bawanna]

I kind of figured he asked the wrong guy how it rates on the core factor.

What many would consider beyond reason hard core would be soft cotton balls to Jocko. He's a hard fella. Whoever Larry is, he must be too, has a reputation apparently.

[jocko]

actually I am a real softie,

[melissa5]

actually I am a real softie,

They make little blue pills for that.

[yqtszhj]

I love technical manuals on any stuff I can learn about. Anything else puts me to sleep.

Yeah I know, I'm weird.

[yqtszhj]

They make little blue pills for that.

:eek: Only Melissa can get away with that one.

[jocko]

every once in awhile I slip one of those blue pills in my 9 year old yorkie. I can't describe the enjoymnenbt I get from seeing him going aorund the house and humping every show he sees. Now I myself do not bother the shoes.

[jeepster09]

every once in awhile I slip one of those blue pills in my 9 year old yorkie. I can't describe the enjoymnenbt I get from seeing him going aorund the house and humping every show he sees. Now I myself do not bother the shoes.



Here you go........:eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI6odXFmRsE

[melissa5]

every once in awhile I slip one of those blue pills in my 9 year old yorkie. I can't describe the enjoymnenbt I get from seeing him going aorund the house and humping every show he sees. Now I myself do not bother the shoes.

When I was a young child, it fascinated me to see our dachshunds get stuck together "bumper to bumper". :eek:

[wyntrout]

Hmmm... and how do you feel about those thoughts now?

Wynn:)

[melissa5]

Hmmm... and how do you feel about those thoughts now?

Wynn:)

That would have been a good post for the "Dear Dietrich" thread. :p

[wyntrout]

I could have thrown in the Frazier "I'm listening".:rolleyes:

Dang! I had to tear myself away from YouTube after that last link... got to watching the Viagra videos.:D

I was on Facebook one day and I clicked on someone's post of Maxine, thinking there would just be a couple... after a hundred or so, I had to leave that site... years of daily cartoons, I guess.

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

Isn't this supposed to be the Literary Club Discussion? LOL!

[melissa5]

Isn't this supposed to be the Literary Club Discussion? LOL!

Look! Shiny! LOL

[MW surveyor]

OK, I'm back. Didn't get banned like the last trip out of the country but soooo sloooow that I couldn't read too much on KahrTalk.

Back to on track - I've probably read most of Lamour's books but the only ones that stand out for me are The Last of the Breed and The Walking Drum. Sure wish he would have developed or maintained the characters to The Walking Drum.

[beatlesfan]

Bawanna, I want to publicly thank you for recommending the "Ashes" series of books. I downloaded them all and loaded the first one on my Kindle. I'm almost done with it, in a little under 48 hours! Amazing book, and there's still like 35 more for me to read!

I'm a huge fan of Bernard Cornwell's books, especially the Sharpe series. Also, Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels (I named my lab Dirk after his main character) and his Oregon series. Another one is Dewey Lambdin's Alan Lewrie novels. If any of you haven't read these series, you simply have to.

Sharpe series is historical fiction about the Napoleonic wars, some of the best writing I've ever read. The Dirk Pitt novels are an adventure series taking place on and under the high seas. Oregon is about a secret mercenary outfit that works for the CIA and does very black ops. Lewrie is about a young man's pressing into Her Majesty's Royal Navy, and his exploits. He's a rogue and always gets into trouble with the ladies. :) All good reading.

Thanks again Bawanna, back to reading about Ben Raines for me!

Sent from Tapatalk

[Bawanna]

Your most certainly welcome. It's cool that you can download them and still be able to read them.

What's a Kindle? I only read the first 6, all I knew of at the time, maybe I could download em too. I'll look up this Kindle thing.

[mightymouse]

Your most certainly welcome. It's cool that you can download them and still be able to read them.

What's a Kindle? I only read the first 6, all I knew of at the time, maybe I could download em too. I'll look up this Kindle thing.

We have 100s of titles on ours. A bit awkward at first, but nice for traveling, waiting rooms etc.

Also check out the Kindle reader apps (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000493771) for your laptop. One click and we all can read from our amazon e- library. For me its easier to read on the bigscreen and no fighting for the Kindle

[Bawanna]

We have 100s of titles on ours. A bit awkward at first, but nice for traveling, waiting rooms etc.

Also check out the Kindle reader apps (http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000493771) for your laptop. One click and we all can read from our amazon e- library. For me its easier to read on the bigscreen and no fighting for the Kindle

Boy I feel stupid. My wife has one of them things you read but it's called something else a nookie? nooker, something nooky like. Looks like a Kindle is kind of the same thing.

I already got a mini laptop I don't know how to work so I'll try to do the E-library thing on that. I'll try to work on downloading that and then some Ben Raines books.

[OldLincoln]

I just finished "Riptide" by Catherine Coulter and before that Clive Cussler's "The Navigator". Both were very good.

I haven't found a bad Cussler book yet. Sometimes his Dirk Pitt is over the top - like 200 enemy shooting at him and a necular weapon exploaded within 10 feet and he just strolls through. But the story around him is always good.

Coulter has a married couple as top FBI agents named Sherlock and Savich who are fairly real, if you don't consider them FBI. They're more like contract agents who don't have to follow any FBI protocols but have the full support of the agency. Ain't fiction wonderful!

I'm interested in the "Ashes" books. Are they adventure without monsters and vampires?

[Bawanna]

I just finished "Riptide" by Catherine Coulter and before that Clive Cussler's "The Navigator". Both were very good.

I haven't found a bad Cussler book yet. Sometimes his Dirk Pitt is over the top - like 200 enemy shooting at him and a necular weapon exploaded within 10 feet and he just strolls through. But the story around him is always good.

Coulter has a married couple as top FBI agents named Sherlock and Savich who are fairly real, if you don't consider them FBI. They're more like contract agents who don't have to follow any FBI protocols but have the full support of the agency. Ain't fiction wonderful!

I'm interested in the "Ashes" books. Are they adventure without monsters and vampires?

Much much adventure, zero monsters and vampires. Very real possibilities in my opinion, real world stuff in at least the early ones. If I'm not mistaken, Ben Raines wears a Milt Sparks six pack mag pouch for his twin Detonics Scoremasters? Can't remember and I may have my hero's mixed up but I think I'm in the right series.
I plan to download if I can figure it out and put my mini laptop to good use. All I have to do is factor in the time somehow.

[wyntrout]

I read about 20 of those Ashes books. They were interesting and entertaining, but it's just pulp fiction with a lot of filler from cut and pasting previous books or episodes... too repetitious!

Cussler is entertaining, but his books are too predictable, too, though they do pick historical and "pop" topics to expand the fiction into. Dirk Pitt always "lucks out" and most of the time ends up with the girl and other new trophies.

A lot of authors are collaborating with other well-known co-authors, in fact, it's getting hard to find books by a lot of well-known authors with only their name anymore. With the Internet and word-processing, it's easier assemble group effort novels, indeed, some are very upfront with this, spawning series with several parallel series generated from subgroups of these same collaborators. Not all of it is good, or bad. A lot of my favorite science-fiction authors collaborate with each other on terrific series using the same "universe" where a lot of the circumstances are the same and there is continuity when reading any of the series running in the past, the present and parallel, or in the future of the main setting. It's more enjoyable when I don't have to construct a whole new universe with each new novel or series created by this And, many of these authors have extensive historical and wide scientific backgrounds, including military service, so the collective works are well-written with a lot of research and facts, along with consistent "science" and laws to explain the weapons and methods of travel and the many other technological innovations necessary to support the realms or universes in which the novels take place.

JMHO

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I haven't found a bad Cussler book yet. Sometimes his Dirk Pitt is over the top - like 200 enemy shooting at him and a necular weapon exploaded within 10 feet and he just strolls through. But the story around him is always good.



I just finished "The Race" last week. His books are okay, but it seems like the heros are always very lucky and everything works out too easily. I had read W. E. B. Griffin's non fiction books years ago, but I just finished a novel called "The Outlaws" a couple of days ago, and I couldn't wait to get to the end. It was really that bad. I'm in the middle of "The End" by J L Robb right now, but I can't say I'm especially enjoying it. I'm an optimistic person by nature, and this is certainly not an optimistic story. I guess I didn't really expect it to be because it's one of those "Apocalytic" books like the Left Behind Series, and I suppose the end of the world is not a good thing to some people.

[Bawanna]

I guess I'm a creature of habit and don't mind repetitive. Not real big on surprises and I hate change. A nice surprise in the mailbox is nice though.

I like McDonalds cause it's repetitive. You want fries with that? Duh?

Not twenty questions like a sit down restaurant. Salad dressing? Feed it to the rabbits, bring me the beef.

[wyntrout]

I read one of Griffin's books and then went back and read everything he had written up to that point. I stopped at least 10 years ago and he's become really prolific... that means he writes a LOT of books, Bawanna.:D

I grew up reading all about WWII... and watching the movies... a lot with John Wayne, Errol Flynn, Robert Mitchum,... even Bogey and a lot of Brits.

I read a lot of Mitchener and Leon Uris, too. I really identified with the Jews during WWII and after the war, trying to establish Israel.

I was a voracious reader, but I returned from SEA in August '68 and started college soon thereafter. Around 20 years ago I became focused on the Vietnam War forward, except for Griffin's books. I was kind of burnt out on WWII stuff and more interested in the period that I had been in and forward.

I still wonder what happened to some of my favorite authors.. got too old... died... or just retired... Mark Berent, Leonard B. Scott, Tom Wilson,Richard Herman, and many more. I remember one who died... Gerry Carroll.

I also read Richard Marcinco's novels with John Weisman, and now popular co-author Jim Defelice... about himself as a pretty self-deprecating and less than perfect hero, but it's very readable and entertaining... but very much PULP-fiction.:D

Demo D!ck or the Rogue Warrior, IS a Vietnam Hero and one of the original SEALS, Originator of "Seal Team Six", and author of "exposé" non-fiction Rogue Warrior, with John Weisman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Marcinko


Wynn:)

[beatlesfan]

Some of you guys expressed interest in finding some books online in digital format. PM me with the title and author and I'll find it.

Sent from Tapatalk

[OldLincoln]

I too read one WEB Griffin and was hooked. I now have all the Jake Grafton books and recently read them again in reading order, that is from Jake being a rookie to rear admiral.

I just came from my cheap bookstore and they found they doubled book prices. Ticks me off but still cheap with hardbacks 3/$1, soft 5/$100. I picked up Clancy's Bear & Dragon (i may have read it before but don't remember), and a couple that just looked okay, "The Pandora Project" by David Ward, and "Death in Santiago" by de Villiers. There were quite a few people buying so I just grab them if they look okay or are an author I like.

[O'Dell]

I still wonder what happened to some of my favorite authors.. got too old... died... or just retired... Mark Berent, Leonard B. Scott, Tom Wilson,Richard Herman, and many more. I remember one who died... Gerry Carroll.






Wynn:)

Richard Herman ...... There's a name I had forgotten. I just checked my library and I have three of his hardbacks. Gerry Carroll was a sad story. I met him once about a year before he took his life. He never was able to forget Viet Nam. I have all three of his books.

I never really cared much for Marcinco.

I started reading books when I was four and still average about 2 1/2 a week. I'll admit that I mix a lot of science books with the novels.

[wyntrout]

Ah... I remember the good old days in San Angelo, Texas, while I was at Goodfellow AFB numerous times going to schools. I used to hit the used book stores and fill up a grocery bag with 10¢ paperbacks... trade-ins for 5¢. Now I get 25% on trade-ins... not sales... and pay half-price for used books. i don't get many books that way anymore. I order the hard covers when they come out from Amazon.com... about 40% off retail and no tax... and free shipping over $25... so I order enough for free shipping... usually two HCs or 1 HC and 1 or 2 paperbacks.
Sometimes I can use the buy 3 get one free on paperbacks and still qualfy for free shipping, too. i like bargains.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I didn't realize Gerry had taken his own life... really sad. I really liked his writing.

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I too read one WEB Griffin and was hooked. I now have all the Jake Grafton books and recently read them again in reading order, that is from Jake being a rookie to rear admiral.

I just came from my cheap bookstore and they found they doubled book prices. Ticks me off but still cheap with hardbacks 3/$1, soft 5/$100. I picked up Clancy's Bear & Dragon (i may have read it before but don't remember), and a couple that just looked okay, "The Pandora Project" by David Ward, and "Death in Santiago" by de Villiers. There were quite a few people buying so I just grab them if they look okay or are an author I like.

I have all of Coontz's books so I followed Grafton too. The two I liked best though were the first, "Flight ......" and "The Intruders". Coontz really did fly an A-6 and he's best when writing about it.

I buy nearly all my books through Amazon. I buy 'used' hardbacks for $5 to $10 and when I get them they're almost always new. I've bought dozens, maybe hundreds over the years and I can count on the finger of one hand the ones that were really used.

[OldLincoln]

I've bought some that way also, that and eBay. Saw my BIL yesterday ans told him I need to return the 4 boxes of books I borrowed. He shook his head and said now his books have out grown the book room and are piled up on the dining room table.

Point is I can't keep up with his getting books. His taste runs a bit different than mine so I try to buy some more in line with me.

[wyntrout]

I send or take all of mine to my ex-wife. She likes a lot of the stuff I do and we're good friends. I pick them up when I get up there for Thanksgiving, usually. I guess that I'm on my own this time, though, Desiree can't get off... we're going to visit her folks in Colorado for Christmas and hopefully we'll have a "family" shooting event again. Wifey and my Ex are good friends and we do everything together with my son and my daughter and her hubby now. We're all family and it's nice... never the hate and vitriol over the divorce... way back in '82. That's nice. Every once in a while I get a chance to throw in the phrase "with my two wives"... which can be painful if I'm close to my Ex!:D Ahhh... living dangerously!
Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I practically never get rid of a book. Other than books, I managed to cure myself of being a pack rat, but my attic is full of boxes and boxes of books dating all the way back to my teenage years. In addition to those boxes, I have twelve bookcases scattered around the house, and one is eight x eight feet with room for two rows one behind the other. I don't buy paperbacks now unless I can't find what I want in a hardback, but alot of the old ones are paper. I go on binges at Amazon and buy fifteen to twenty at a time, usually on the same subject.

[wyntrout]

I've never sold many and for years I've had wishlists on Amazon.com waiting for books to come out. There's a used bookstore that I found locally and the guy there suggested I try some authors I hadn't... I did and bought whole series and read them... some pretty long. I'm hesitant to try some authors... so prolific and so many books out there. i have enough distractions with guns and the authors and series I'm following now.
It's a good thing I don't try to keep an Amateur Radio Station any more... still current and licensed, but that's another way to really blow money. I once go interested in EME communications and stuff must really be wild now with all of the advances in computers AND electronic communication. EME is Earth-Moon-Earth... bouncing signals off the moon... usually UHF SSB with powerful amplifiers and very powerful antenna arrays with azimuth AND elevation rotators for pointing at and tracking the moon... or even satellites. I did a lot of experimenting with antennas... and a few times hooked up my VHF SSB (All mode) transceiver to one of our B52's ECM antennas... a big broad-banded "scimitar" on the forward belly. Wow! What range I got from 30,000' as an aeronautical mobile. Everybody wanted to talk to me, especially when we went to England. I always liked gadgets and Ham Radio gave me something to play with... and learn. I kind of miss some of that stuff, but I can only afford so many expensive hobbies and guns and shooting really can tie up some money. I've increased my insurance coverage by 5K since January of last year... about a 250% increase! And I haven't bought anything expensive... just a lot of somethings! I hate to think about how much I spent and have in ammo!:eek:
I would love to go nuts and "upgrade" my computer AGAIN, too. There are 6 CPU processors, 6Gbs SATA3 HDs, USB3.0 (I added that) and memory is dirt cheap again... everything is cheap, but when you start building a system, costs add up when you pick everything that you want!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[Bawanna]

Any one recall a survivalist series. It was similar to the Ashes series and had a main character name John Thomas Rourke. I think he was actually the guy that had the Detonics and the Milt Sparks Six Pack. I think I got my series mixed up.

[wyntrout]

Nope, here's info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Survivalist

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I would love to go nuts and "upgrade" my computer AGAIN, too. There are 6 CPU processors, 6Gbs SATA3 HDs, USB3.0 (I added that) and memory is dirt cheap again... everything is cheap, but when you start building a system, costs add up when you pick everything that you want!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

I'm getting the same urge and I don't know why. I have an I-7 quadcore running at 3.6 gigs, a state of the art video card and 6 Gigs of triple channel memory. My lap top has the same CPU at 3.0, 6 gigs and a lessor video card. Both will do anything I need and the only sensible upgrade would be more memory. But, ....... I want to build a new desktop. I don't game and even if I did my current system would handle it. I want to do it, but I'm fighting the idea.

[wyntrout]

I don't NEED it, but I like tinkering with the things and getting a new system to work. I'm still running XP Pro(2005 Media Center Edition)... 32-bit, so the 4 CPU's are not used that much. I don't want to succumb to all of that DRM crap.

I may someday finally make the move to Ubuntu... AND 64-bit, but procrastination and laziness along with the guilt of doing something besides the things around the house that my wife keeps nagging me about.:rolleyes: You know that stuff... WORK... the FOUR-LETTER WORD! (Good old Maynard G.)

Dang! I just finished a big, fat paperback(my favorite David Weber Honor Harrington series) of 800+ pages that I got 1/3 of the way into and had to put it aside and read the parallel book of the same size because the other held much of the action discussed or being reacted to. Now I'm through and caught up and have to wait until March of the next year to buy the hard covers... can't wait for the paperback!

I can't believe that I hadn't bought those two when they first came out. I was behind in reading and "fooling around" with all of the other "toys" I bought in the last year or so.

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Uh, maybe when you high rollers get your new computer s you will sell your old ones here in the non-firearm section?

[Bawanna]

Along with instructions for operation and a glossary to explain what all them terms mean.

Gotta go sharpen my # 2 pencil now on the manual hand cranked non electrical you can count on it sharpener.

[O'Dell]

I don't NEED it, but I like tinkering with the things and getting a new system to work. I'm still running XP Pro(2005 Media Center Edition)... 32-bit, so the 4 CPU's are not used that much. I don't want to succumb to all of that DRM crap.

I may someday finally make the move to Ubuntu... AND 64-bit, but procrastination and laziness along with the guilt of doing something besides the things around the house that my wife keeps nagging me about.:rolleyes: You know that stuff... WORK... the FOUR-LETTER WORD! (Good old Maynard G.)


Wynn:)

Both of mine are running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit, so I can make use of the quad core.

[O'Dell]

Uh, maybe when you high rollers get your new computer s you will sell your old ones here in the non-firearm section?

When ever I build a new one the old one is always for sale - you never know ......

[O'Dell]

Along with instructions for operation and a glossary to explain what all them terms mean.

Gotta go sharpen my # 2 pencil now on the manual hand cranked non electrical you can count on it sharpener.

You don't need a pencil - just use your G4 I-Pad. :D

[Bawanna]

You don't need a pencil - just use your G4 I-Pad. :D

That's a fine idea but I think you need to have an IQ to use a G4. I wouldn't know where to plug it in or how to turn it on if I knew what it was.

I chatted with a sales guy about a I-Phone once, didn't have no buttons, or fold or slide or anything, mostly just pictures and Icons? on a little flat screen. After a few minutes he told me they weren't for everyone and kind of glanced in the direction of the exit door. Wasn't real sure of his true meaning but I'm thinking I wasn't over qualified to own one, ya think.

[wyntrout]

I went online at Amazon.com this morning... VERY early, looking for the next book after the ones I just finished... won't be out until March! Bummer.

I Ordered several books, though, and still need to find one more paperback on this second order for the 3 for 4 deal. I couldn't find one that I had been wanting, but I found the downloads for it, though I don't have any of the readers, or the reader software, yet, for my Android-based cell phone. I down loaded several, but I wound up reading Sunrise Alley by Catherine Asaro in Word on my computer. Changing the font, the margins and line spacing I got a format that's easy reading... better than I could manage on my cell phone, I'm sure. I'll have to see what's available with Android. I tried the format that works with Barnes and Noble's Nook, but I still need the reader installed and I couldn't get connected, yet, to do so.

Dang! Got to go cook... Wifey's getting pissed! She gets that way when she's hungry! She's getting some cheese and stuff to go with her wine and I need to get busy with supper!

Later.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I just finished the book I downloaded this morning... Sunrise Alley... 538 pages, 95,773 words... not great, but it was a precursor to one I bought over a year ago that looked good. NOW I can start it... one of these days. I have some higher priority ones first... probably one I just ordered by David Weber... How Firm a Foundation (Safehold) if not the other one by him, A Beautiful Friendship (Star Kingdom) which is related to the two long ones I just read by him.
I've never read a book in other than book form. Using the PC with a 23" monitor... just regular black text on white screen was okay. I used to be really bothered by the flicker rate... even with LCD screens at 70 or 75 Hz, as I have this one set. I'm surprised to sit this long in front of a monitor without eyestrain. This is a high def monitor, not the HDTV/Monitor that I had been using, but it does have a lower refresh rate of 2ms vs 4 or 5. That must be making the difference.

Increasing the margins(2" R & L, 1" Top & bottom) or narrowing the "page" and choosing a decent font(Trebuchet MS) and size 14 really made reading easy. It was the rich text version in 12pt Times New Roman font... 217 pages that way... and I converted it or saved it as a Word document. I would rather be reclining in my chair or reading in bed, though.:)

Just checked... delivery not until ~14th, so John Ringo's up next, I guess. I have books 2 and 3 of his Troy Rising series... science fiction. I really liked the first one Live Free Or Die from March 2010.

I noticed that the Kindle versions of the books I ordered were only about $3 cheaper and I would rather have the book... more substantial.

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

That's a fine idea but I think you need to have an IQ to use a G4. I wouldn't know where to plug it in or how to turn it on if I knew what it was.

I chatted with a sales guy about a I-Phone once, didn't have no buttons, or fold or slide or anything, mostly just pictures and Icons? on a little flat screen. After a few minutes he told me they weren't for everyone and kind of glanced in the direction of the exit door. Wasn't real sure of his true meaning but I'm thinking I wasn't over qualified to own one, ya think.

I'm still using an old style flip phone. It has 3G but I have everything turned off except the phone and direct connect. I guess by the time I have to get another, smart phones will be the only option. Oh well, I'll worry about that when I get there.

[O'Dell]

Yeah, I am sticking with freebees on the Kindle. There are too many places to find books locally to get excited about Amazon. :rolleyes:

I tried the Kindle and even bought one. I didn't like it, nor do I like books on tape or disc or paperbacks. I also don't like to read on the computer. I suppose I'm just too old fashioned. I like a good old, solid hardback. It's odd that I have to build myself a state of the art computer with all the latest equipment, but have no use for smart phones, book readers, or any of the other new electronic gismos.

[Bawanna]

I tried the Kindle and even bought one. I didn't like it, nor do I like books on tape or disc or paperbacks. I also don't like to read on the computer. I suppose I'm just too old fashioned. I like a good old, solid hardback. It's odd that I have to build myself a state of the art computer with all the latest equipment, but have no use for smart phones, book readers, or any of the other new electronic gismos.

Well that does it for me. I didn't much care for the online magazines and I tried briefly reading a sample book on my little mini laptop santa brought me. I guess I'm gonna look for the real books too.
My wife has a Nook which I think is just a tad bigger than a Kindle, I think she wants a Kindle, she reads on it every night. I guess I should try reading on hers on the rare occasions when she reads a real book and see if it works.

Several of the guys around here have Iphones and they do miraculous stuff but just think they are over my head in the technology dept. Guess if I played and begged for help enough I'd figure it out eventually.

[MW surveyor]

I've got a Nook. Still like real paper to read off of but when traveling like I do, it's pretty hard to carry enough books. Been downloading either free or under $5.00 books for it.

Kind of disappointed in the prices for the downloads that since there is no paper involved the downloads generally cost as much as a paperback.

[OldLincoln]

I kinda wanted a reader but since I don't really go anywhere and my availability of paper books it's kind of silly. I'd have to buy the reader then buy the eBooks to read what I get for free on paper now. Fortunately I get enough paperbacks to carry on what trips we do take.

Same with the smart phones. I get maybe 2 or 3 short calls a week and maybe 6 texts. The 10 emails I get are seldom personal and never something I need to read right away, plus I'm in front of the computer much of the day. While I'd love to have something like an iPhone to play with until I tired of it, the $30/month min keeps me away. What can't they make a dumb phone with the menus and stuff? Mine is a LG 9900 "Orange" from a few years ago.

[MW surveyor]

OL - Trust me on this. Stick with the half priced books, bargain paper backs at the used book stores, free books, etc. You'll be money ahead! Traveling in a car or whatever you can load up a whole bunch of books. Just try carrying ten or so books with you if you are going on an airplane with only carry on luggage.

[wyntrout]

Part of my gearing up to leave the house now is adding the Pay as You Go smartphone (LG Thrive) to my new gun belt... in front of the spare mag holder. Usually my Fast Draw Gerber knife is clipped in left front pocket, or right rear on gun side if I'll have to remove the pistol and leave it in the vehicle... leaving A weapon on my strong side.

With the new Kydex-reinforced belt, I feel like I have on one of those police duty belts with all of the stuff I have with me. I usually don't carry a light, but when I go to Colorado I can try out the COP .45 mag & light holder when we're going to be out after dark.

Dang! Too much thread diversion here! :D

Wynn:)

[JFootin]

With the new Kydex-reinforced belt, I feel like I have on one of those police duty belts with all of the stuff I have with me. I usually don't carry a light, but when I go to Colorado I can try out the COP .45 mag & light holder when we're going to be out after dark.

Dang! Too much thread diversion here! :D

Wynn:)

I got my Looper belt a few days ago. Very pleased with it. I discovered that it has 5 holes spaced 3/4" apart, instead of the usual 1" spacing. A pleasant surprise. That helps to get a more exact fit no matter what I am carrying.

[melissa5]

If I were going to get a book reader, I'd go ahead and get an iPad so that I could do other stuff with it also. Anyway, I just recently started selling off my book collections and will be using the library for most of my reading in the future.

PS: I've discovered that if I OC while wearing 5.11 pants, I will be mistaken for a cop. Is that a blessing or a curse? LOL

[LaP]

PS: I've discovered that if I OC while wearing 5.11 pants, I will be mistaken for a cop. Is that a blessing or a curse? LOL

For an old timer like me, it's a blessing. If someone takes notice of my 5.11 pants, it'll be either cops or badguys. The cops don't bother you and the badguys figure it may be better to just play it safe and move on to someone else to target.
Plus... they're so darned comfortable, lots of deep pockets, durable, and affordable.
My sense of "fashion"?... if I have the same style shoes on, I'm in fashion.:D

[beatlesfan]

I absolutely love my tac pants. 5.11 makes some with fleece inside for the winter, I love them!. So comfy. Blackhawk makes some good ones to.

Sent from Tapatalk

[wyntrout]

I still think of it as a "Whack-a-Mole" thing... threats get whacked first. Criminals who are persistent will take out the threats first. If you look like a cop... OR are OPENLY carrying, you're the first threat or target for elimination... at worst, the "source" of another weapon.

I'm carrying covertly because I want the advantage of surprise... any advantage I can get.

There was another major shooting spree today where the perp' was wearing body armor. Again, if the first shot or two doesn't have the desired effect... headshots... practice double-taps.

That happened on Dexter the other night, too. The cop fired a whole magazine before realizing that.:rolleyes: He was wearing an overcoat or something in Miami, too!

Wynn:)

[LMT42]

For anyone considering an eReader, I'd strongly recommend the Kindle or Nook. While you can use reading apps on your computer or phone, you'll get eye strain due to the backlighting - no eye strain with kindle/nook.

[wyntrout]

That's what shocked me about reading that whole book here yesterday. I usually have a big problem with monitors... going back to the TRS-80 and their model 3, as well. This monitor is a new addition, not like the LG HDTV's weren't, but with faster response of 2ms... gray to gray, I believe. I guess it was a good purchase and not un-needed! This is really a first!

Wynn:)

[ltxi]

For anyone considering an eReader, I'd strongly recommend the Kindle or Nook. While you can use reading apps on your computer or phone, you'll get eye strain due to the backlighting - no eye strain with kindle/nook.

I resisted eReaders. Hated the idea of them displacing "real" books. But bought wife a latest version Kindle for her birthday about a year ago out of desperation. She's a voracious reader, rereads her books, hates to part with any of them, and our basement was filling up. Then I took a good look at it and bought one for myself. Perfect single purpose device. Paper stuff is now pretty much history for both of us.

[Bawanna]

With a Kindle you download a book onto your computer and then into your Kindle right. Wife has Nook and it can do internet. She wants a Kindle but said I can't have the Nook, selfish.

Wait I thought a gal (is gal allowed?) said she downloaded direct to her Kindle. Even gets the newspaper and stuff on it.

Looks like I got more research to do. I want to read the Ashes and Survivalist series again and some aren't available in paper any more.

[beatlesfan]

With a Kindle you download a book onto your computer and then into your Kindle right. Wife has Nook and it can do internet. She wants a Kindle but said I can't have the Nook, selfish.

Wait I thought a gal (is gal allowed?) said she downloaded direct to her Kindle. Even gets the newspaper and stuff on it.

Looks like I got more research to do. I want to read the Ashes and Survivalist series again and some aren't available in paper any more.

Kindle can download right to itself. No need for a computer if you don't want to. There's a wifi and a 3G (cell phone phone signal, but you don't need to buy a monthly plan or contact) version as well.

Sent from Tapatalk

[wyntrout]

My sister-in-law had a new Nook Color when she and my brother visited us back in the Spring. We got it up and running on my home network and I can't get my danged Android-based LG Thrive connected. Almost everything in the house connects to it... wired or using the Netgear Powerline hookups.

I haven't even been able to get a 3G connection here at home lately... wondering if I have a malfunctioning phone.

Anyhow, I think that Buy.com had them on sale for $199 or $149 for a refurb... don't remember if that was right... was thinking about one of those... Ilike color capability and maybe the other features besides reading. BUT, I was on a big spending spree the last couple of months... prodigious amount of ammo and a "new" pistol, plus LOTS of ancillary stuff... plus starting the process of getting a tooth implant.:(

Wynn:)

[beatlesfan]

Before anyone goes out and buys a Nook or Kindle: Amazon just recently announced 3 new Kindles. They'll be released mid November(the cheapest one is available now for $80). Once the others are out, the prices on older Kindles and the Nook are gonna drop. So hold off for about a month.

Sent from Tapatalk

[ltxi]

With a Kindle you download a book onto your computer and then into your Kindle right. Wife has Nook and it can do internet. She wants a Kindle but said I can't have the Nook, selfish.

Wait I thought a gal (is gal allowed?) said she downloaded direct to her Kindle. Even gets the newspaper and stuff on it.

Looks like I got more research to do. I want to read the Ashes and Survivalist series again and some aren't available in paper any more.

My first attempt to wean my wife from paper two or three years ago was a Sony Reader That required download to computer and the bookstore/whole transfer bit was cumbersome. Also the earlier e-ink wasn't that great. As beatlesfan already noted, the Kindle is simple, downloads to itself, and you can use Amazon's website to control/collate all content. Get the 3G version...$50 extra, but you get simplicity and lifetime 3G service for that price.

[beatlesfan]

My first attempt to wean my wife from paper two or three years ago was a Sony Reader That required download to computer and the bookstore/whole transfer bit was cumbersome. Also the earlier e-ink wasn't that great. As beatlesfan already noted, the Kindle is simple, downloads to itself, and you can use Amazon's website to control/collate all content. Get the 3G version...$50 extra, but you get simplicity and lifetime 3G service for that price.

I just did some quick googling, and it appears that loading your own digital books(books you didn't buy from Barnes and Nobel) onto the Nook is equally easy. I'll post instructions for Nook and Kindle in a separate topic and post a link here.

Sent from Tapatalk

[Bawanna]

And Beatlesfan just went SENIOR right before our own eyes. Kind of like a solar eclipse.

Party time.

[beatlesfan]

And Beatlesfan just went SENIOR right before our own eyes. Kind of like a solar eclipse.

Party time.

Haha look at me! Growing up and all. Next I'll be yelling at kids to get off my lawn and talking about how when I was kid gas was only $3.50 a gallon.

After I get that instructional post up I'll send you a PM Bawanna.

[LMT42]

I'll post instructions for Nook and Kindle in a separate topic and post a link here.


I'd love to see a thread on the Kindle/Nook and their advantages/disadvantages. It would be handy for anyone considering an ereader purchase. I don't think one is better than the other, they're just different, so it depends on the reader's lifestyle.

I spent many hours researching them and couldn't find an objective comparison. Too many people get attached to their objects and claim it's the best. Funny watching adults argue about which has the better ereader when the differences are relatively minor. I'll contribute what I can to help people determine which is best for them.

[beatlesfan]

I'd love to see a thread on the Kindle/Nook and their advantages/disadvantages. It would be handy for anyone considering an ereader purchase. I don't think one is better than the other, they're just different, so it depends on the reader's lifestyle.

I spent many hours researching them and couldn't find an objective comparison. Too many people get attached to their objects and claim it's the best. Funny watching adults argue about which has the better ereader when the differences are relatively minor. I'll contribute what I can to help people determine which is best for them.

I'll post a comparison up in a bit. Busy night for me! Lol.

[Bawanna]

Haha look at me! Growing up and all. Next I'll be yelling at kids to get off my lawn and talking about how when I was kid gas was only $3.50 a gallon.

After I get that instructional post up I'll send you a PM Bawanna.

Copy that. Guess you don't want to hear that at the gas station where I worked in High School gas was 28 cents a gallon and we checked your oil and washed your windows and people drove off in a huff cause we were the highest price in town.

[beatlesfan]

Copy that. Guess you don't want to hear that at the gas station where I worked in High School gas was 28 cents a gallon and we checked your oil and washed your windows and people drove off in a huff cause we were the highest price in town.

I also heard that you met President Lincoln. How was he? :D My buddy who is a bit older (36) told me that he used to put $10 in the tank of his Ram Charger and it would last him all week. I drive a V8 to, and $10 barely get's me an 1/8 tank. :rolleyes:

[Bawanna]

Oh yeah, we'd get guys all the time getting 5 bucks worth. we'd joke and ask if they were going on a trip.

5 bucks would'nt register on the gauge in my van. Prices are good when I can fill up for less than a 100 bucks. Thank my lucky stars I only live 5 miles from work.

[beatlesfan]

Oh yeah, we'd get guys all the time getting 5 bucks worth. we'd joke and ask if they were going on a trip.

5 bucks would'nt register on the gauge in my van. Prices are good when I can fill up for less than a 100 bucks. Thank my lucky stars I only live 5 miles from work.

It's about $60 for me to fill up right now. I get about 15mpg in my 2004 GTO. 5.7L LS1 V8. Yeah, not too great lol. I refuse to drive like a normal human being though. As Jocko would say, "I drive it like I stole it!"

[beatlesfan]

O.K. Everyone, here are the instructions for loading your own books on the Kindle and Nook:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?p=101509#post101509

[MW surveyor]

Don't any of you people remember gas price wars with competing gas stations across the street from each other? I can remember buying gas for 17.9 cents per gallon!

[beatlesfan]

Don't any of you people remember gas price wars with competing gas stations across the street from each other? I can remember buying gas for 17.9 cents per gallon!

You're making me cry! I've only been driving for 8 years...

[OldLincoln]

Don't any of you people remember gas price wars with competing gas stations across the street from each other? I can remember buying gas for 17.9 cents per gallon!
Remember hell! I must have pumped 100.000 gallons for 17-20 cents during my high school years. Worked full time after 8th grade to military.

And service, wow! It was all included, oil, tires, glass, kiss the girls, etc. I really enjoyed working there and got to know the regulars. Rode my bicycle in the dark to open at 6AM, Mom took me to school at 7:45 and back to work at 3:30, took me home at 7PM. I got every Saturday off unless it was a holiday and then the "hired help" got off and all family worked. The more I worked the better I got and the more I loved it. Looking back, retirement sucks!

[Bawanna]

Oh my. Youth in our midst. A good thing for sure.

[wyntrout]

I can remember working in my buddy's grandfather's filling station... and getting a 5¢ commission for selling a quart of oil. I think my buddy and I got maybe 50¢ an hour, but not sure... it could have been 25¢. That was a few years before I was BUYING gas, though, 1961 or 1962. I can sure remember gas wars and prices below 20¢.
We checked all the fluids and washed the windows. It was fun trying to find some of the fuel receptacles. Car manufacturers really got inventive on some back then.:)

We had more fun driving the cars that were left for us to be serviced and washed. We drove some "around the block".... no licenses, yet.:rolleyes:

Wynn:D

[Bawanna]

I made 1.60 an hour running the place saturday evenings and open to close on sunday's. After 3 years I got a raise to 1.90.

My boss was a cheap bastard. Also any shortage in the till came out of my check since him and his son never made mistakes. He could'nt legally do that but he did anyway. Fortunately they didn't make many mistakes or I'd of had to pay to work there.

I did have a few Dietrich episodes, ladies with itchy kittys but like him I told em I was a gas jockey not a vet. Ignorance of youth.

[O'Dell]

Copy that. Guess you don't want to hear that at the gas station where I worked in High School gas was 28 cents a gallon and we checked your oil and washed your windows and people drove off in a huff cause we were the highest price in town.

What, you didn't check the battery? What kind of shoddy station was that? We did the oil, windshield, battery, and tires if you wanted it. Plus, our gas was only $.25.

[wyntrout]

Hey, OldLincoln, where are you from? Here in Amurica we use them little squiggly things,,,,. One thousand is 1,000 not 1.000.:boink:

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

I can remember working in my buddy's grandfather's filling station... and getting a 5¢ commission for selling a quart of oil. I think my buddy and I got maybe 50¢ an hour, but not sure... it could have been 25¢. That was a few years before I was BUYING gas, though, 1961 or 1962. I can sure remember gas wars and prices below 20¢.
We checked all the fluids and washed the windows. It was fun trying to find some of the fuel receptacles. Car manufacturers really got inventive on some back then.:)

We had more fun driving the cars that were left for us to be serviced and washed. We drove some "around the block".... no licenses, yet.:rolleyes:

Wynn:D

I worked every day after school, or football practice, or track practice until 10:00 and 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturday. Like all stations, we were closed on Sunday. I made 50 cents an hour and got a raise to 55 cents just before I had to quit to go to the Academy. Mostly, I washed cars, pumped gas and changed oil. We had a mechanic for the hard stuff.

[wyntrout]

That was part pf the liquids. We checked the differential, too, when it was on the rack for lubrication... and we sprayed all of the rubber stuff with some kind of rubber lubricant/preservative. It was like an Easter egg hunt looking for all of the oil fittings.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

I still shudder when I think about blowing the brake dust out of the drums with an air hose.:eek: Who knew about asbestos then? I don't think I did that much, though.

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Funny isn't it. I did most of the brake jobs and just blew that stuff all over the place breathing it in like all the other dust around there. I'm thinking that if you don't know better, the bad stuff won't hurt you. Like the guys I hunted with in Arkansas didn't even think about all those snakes and never got bit.

One time I took a breather and looked around and saw 2 or 3 killer snakes and a croc in the water. Didn't hunt any more as all I'd see would be the critters.

[OldLincoln]

I read Larry Bond's "Vortex" over a few days and it was really not very good in my opinion, but maybe it's just me.

Then I read "The Night Manager" by John Le Carre' and I'm positive that one stunk! It reminded me of LA Confidential which I also didn't care for.

Then was "The Pandora Project" by David Ward which was just a decent story.

But then it was James Patterson's "The Beach House" which is a first class winner.

I'm down to my last two books of this batch, both by Tom Clancy. I'm reading them in order with "The Bear and the Dragon" followed by "Without Remorse." Just getting into the first one and it's pretty good with Jack Ryan as POTUS. I really like the while slick paper and good print after the last few books.

[O'Dell]

I read Larry Bond's "Vortex" over a few days and it was really not very good in my opinion, but maybe it's just me.

Then I read "The Night Manager" by John Le Carre' and I'm positive that one stunk! It reminded me of LA Confidential which I also didn't care for.

Then was "The Pandora Project" by David Ward which was just a decent story.

But then it was James Patterson's "The Beach House" which is a first class winner.

I'm down to my last two books of this batch, both by Tom Clancy. I'm reading them in order with "The Bear and the Dragon" followed by "Without Remorse." Just getting into the first one and it's pretty good with Jack Ryan as POTUS. I really like the while slick paper and good print after the last few books.

I liked Bond's first four books including Vortex. Cauldron was my favorite. I always thought La Carre wrote espionage novels which I don't care for, so I never read one of his. Never read Patterson either - he seems to put one out about every week. I've read all of Clancy's books including the new ones, but the only ones I've read over and over are Hunt, Red Storm and Debt.

[wyntrout]

Maybe Cauldron was the one where the B52's dropped nukes on the battlefield... don't remember, but that kind of stuff always gives me a chill... trained for that stuff but never had to drop anything on anyone... on purpose!

I put the Kindle app on my LG Thrive Smartphone and have read one free book and started another from the free library at baen.com... pretty handy in my recent dental office visits, and sitting in my TV chair. The phone requires a lot more charging and I'll get some kind of e-book as soon as I figure which one. The Kindle Fire sounds good at $199, but lacks the storage flexibility... no memory card slots, but can use Amazon "cloud storage" for books and movies... not so interested in movies, but online shopping would be nice... might be better to get "just a reader" but I like gadgets.

The screen on my phone is just under 2" by just under 3", so it's not huge, but it seems to be okay for reading... just need to keep it charged up or connected to power!

Wynn:)

[O'Dell]

Maybe Cauldron was the one where the B52's dropped nukes on the battlefield... don't remember, but that kind of stuff always gives me a chill... trained for that stuff but never had to drop anything on anyone... on purpose!

I put the Kindle app on my LG Thrive Smartphone and have read one free book and started another from the free library at baen.com... pretty handy in my recent dental office visits, and sitting in my TV chair. The phone requires a lot more charging and I'll get some kind of e-book as soon as I figure which one. The Kindle Fire sounds good at $199, but lacks the storage flexibility... no memory card slots, but can use Amazon "cloud storage" for books and movies... not so interested in movies, but online shopping would be nice... might be better to get "just a reader" but I like gadgets.



Wynn:)

Near the end of "Vortex" we carpet bombed the battlefield with 750# bombs using B-52's, but no nukes. That's when the Cubans gave up because their commander had seen what the B-52's could do in Viet Nam. I don't recall using B-52's in "Cauldron", but it's been awhile. [I need to drag that book off the shelf and reread it] We didn't use any nukes, but the French tried to nuke one of our carries groups. That didn't work well for them as we shot down the missile, and then took out their two missile subs and all of their nuclear missile launch sites.

I have a Kindle that I bought when they came out, but I don't like to read on them. I like good old hardbacks and only buy paperbacks when I can't find the book I want in hard cover.

[wyntrout]

I'm about to go out the door and go to our best gun show in town. I'm not looking for anything, but I've got enough cash to make a really good deal, but doubt I'll see any. I guess I could say it's for my Christmas present.

I've read a book on my computer now... one that was hard to find... free was nice, too. And I'm on my second one on my phone... not too bad. I'm glad I got a faster monitor, though, I usually don't get along with fluorescent lights, CRTs, OR regular 5ms or so LCD monitors. My latest is ~2ms GTG and that seemed to do the trick... that and forcing 75fps vertical refresh rate.

Well... later... off to the gun show!

Wynn:)

[QuercusMax]

Another Rip Van Winkle moment - apparently I missed this whole thread when it was current. Anyway, I was about to post this:

I really enjoyed reading American Rifle: A Biography (http://www.amazon.com/American-Rifle-Biography-Alexander-Rose/dp/0553384384), which traces the development of the rifle in American from the Revolutionary War to the present day. It's a veritable "Who's Who" of American firearms history with all the big names (Winchester, Henry, Lee, Sharps, etc), the stupidities of government (which is not just a modern phenomenon), and the series of discoveries and inventions (smokeless powder, metallic cartridges, etc) that got us where we are today.

The author makes a big point of how the rifle was a particularly American weapon, used by individual sharpshooters at long range in contrast to "European" style of fighting which emphasized masses of densely-packed, brightly-uniformed soldiers who mindlessly used muskets and close range under the command of their officers. It was also interesting to learn about the incredible resistance to change in the US Army Ordnance Dept to modern inventions such as the repeating rifle and guns with magazines.

Lots of other interesting stories and factoids, including this one: In the early 1900's, just after the Army adopted the .30-06 round, they were sued by a German company who had a patent on the "Spitzer" (pointed) bullet. Litigation dragged on (just like today), until the lawsuit was voided by the US government when the US entered WW I. But incredibly, after the war the same German company re-sued the US government for patent infringement - and won!

An enjoyable read.

[QuercusMax]

And I should add:

I didn't read this on a Kindle (which I don't have anyway), and didn't get it from Amazon. Because I am cheap and love books, I get most of my books at Half Price Books, usually in the bargain section where there are a lot of new or nearly-new books for $1 - $3 each. In this case, I picked up a new hardcover copy of American Rifle for $2.

Another interesting quirk about Kindle: I notice that they are selling the paperback version of American Rifle for $15, while the Kindle version is 99 cents more!

[OldLincoln]

I finished Clancy's "The Bear and the Dragon" a few days ago. Made another run to my favorite cheap book store and got a real haul. Bought 5 Clancy books, a Crichton, Sheldon, and Grisham. But best of all, I got "America" by Steven Coonts. I have all of his Grafton series except that so now it's complete. It's a very good book and I'll finish it today.

My favorite book store is looking for the right price for their books. My first visit a few months ago paper backs were 10/$1 while hard were 6/$1, next visit a few weeks ago paper was 5/$1 and hard 3/$1. A couple days ago it was paper 2/$1 and hard 1/$1. There was a lot more books on the shelf this last trip.

[wyntrout]

I had to give up on the half-price bookstores and start ordering my books as they came out... most as hard covers and lesser favorites in paperback. I prefer the paperbacks... less damage if I fall asleep in bed and drop one on my face... cheaper, too.

That's the problem with buying new Kindle books... as much as Amazon charges for new hard covers... and all you have are some electrons... the digital version. I get a lot of magazines that way... no stacks to dispose of.

I have way too many books, though... not interested in having a LARGE library... just wanted to hang on to some of my favorite series in case I might want to read them again. It's hard to sell them because no one wants to pay even 25% of retail, though I can get that in trade at a half-price used store... so that's what they are worth to me. I don't sell books for 10¢ 0r 25¢. Good grief! Books cost $8 or $10 for new paperbacks and about $17 each for hardcovers at Amazon, delivered when you spend $25 or more.

I have books that I need the preceding ones in the series before reading, and it's hard to come by the older ones, but some are available for free at places like baen.com... one of my favorite publishers of science fiction. I like to read the books in order.

Wynn:)

[QuercusMax]

I have way too many books, though...

I know that feeling, although I probably like nice books as much, or more, than guns. (ducking for cover here)

The last time I moved (6 years ago), I had so many that they filled half of the 8' bed in my Ford Super Duty, stacked in boxes to the ceiling of my bed cap. That alone made me see some value in having electronic copies instead of electrons, but then I love to fondle my paper books ... just like my metal guns.

[wyntrout]

While I read ERB' series back in the 60's, and having to wait for the John Carter of Mars DVD to come out, I decided to see about getting the series to read on my cell phone using the Kindle Reader App. I got the whole series of 5 novels for just 99¢ from Amazon.com... delivered to my phone within seconds. Now I have something to read or kill time when waiting on doctors and dentists.

David Weber's latest Honor Harrington book will be here tomorrow and I'll start that.

The last book ended with a new Alliance of Manticore and Haven confronting the Solar League as they popped into Manticoran Space, expecting to quickly subdue the Manticoran System. That ought to be a great story! Weber is my favorite author and this is my favorite series!

http://www.amazon.com/Rising-Thunder-Honor-Harrington/dp/145163806X

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Yee... HAAA! Got my Rising Thunder today.... gonna start reading pretty soon until I conk out.

There's a picture of it in the background of my P380 ammo pictures today.

Wynn:)

[muggsy]

I prefer light outdoor humor. Patrick F McManus, "They Shoot Canoes Don't They?" or Into the Twilight Endlessly Grousing."

[OldLincoln]

With my Kindle Fire I find I'm reading a lot. I have "Kindle for PC" so I can read a story on the PC and take it with me on the Knndle and they stay in sync so I don't have to look for my place.

Because of that, for variety (and because most are cheap) I started reading SiFi. I was surprised that some authors write very well and it lets me get into the story even if they are really out there - stuff like AI that's smarter than Bawanna and all.:) Okay, I said really far fetched, right?

Mt recent ones include:
The Awakened (Jason Tesar); The Honour of Knights (Stephen Sweeney); Origin - Glassworks Legacy (Roy Glover); Origins - Spinward Fringe (Randolph Lalonde).

I guess I haven't been a fan of SiFi, but it's a break from the usual.

[wyntrout]

Check out Baen.com and their free library. Try Tom Kratman's Caliphate (http://www.baenebooks.com/p-748-caliphate.aspx)and
http://www.baenebooks.com/images/Product/icon/1416521453.jpg (http://www.baenebooks.com/p-614-a-desert-called-peace.aspx) A Desert Called Peace (http://www.baenebooks.com/p-614-a-desert-called-peace.aspx)

There are several books after A Desert... and The Caliphate sounds like what the Muslims are after.

Anyhow... free reading to try... Sci-Fi.

I'm halfway through A Rising Thiunder... stayed up reading until my eyes were watering so badly that I had to call it quits around 330AM or so.

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Okay, I grabbed a few free books put them in Calibre and Kindle Fire. But how in the dickens do I get them to show up in "Kindle for PC"?

[OldLincoln]

Well, perhaps needs a PS anyway.

Wynn, just got a B52 Viet Nam Kindle book named:
Big BUF: Tales of the B-52 Bombers, the SAC pilots Who Flew Them & the Wives They Left at Home in the Era of the Vietnam War (http://www.amazon.com/Big-BUF-Bombers-Vietnam-ebook/dp/B0082DTI46%3FSubscriptionId%3D1GVBN9WWNVXC5DBPE502 %26tag%3Dkiq-free-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165 953%26creativeASIN%3DB0082DTI46)[Kindle Edition] (http://www.amazon.com/Big-BUF-Bombers-Vietnam-ebook/dp/B0082DTI46%3FSubscriptionId%3D1GVBN9WWNVXC5DBPE502 %26tag%3Dkiq-free-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165 953%26creativeASIN%3DB0082DTI46)

It's free for now if you have an Amazon account (also free). You need a reader for Kindle (either Kindle Reader ($), Kindle for PC (free) or Kindle Cloud Reader (free).

I haven't read it yet but it's supposed to be factual written by Chuck Holmes and his wife. The description below:

Big BUF is a fact-based story of a B-52 crew and their adventures (and misadventures) during the Vietnam war.

Although war is in itself not humorous, humorous things happen in war. This is not only true on the battlefield, but is also true at home where the wives and children anxiously await the return of their husbands and fathers.

No character in the book is any one living individual, and the story is embellished with a little artistic license, but is based on actual events. For example, there was a Russian spy at Pataya Beach, Thailand. It became a game to see if one could be picked up by the lovely spy. There was also a rumor that a general's wife opened a house of pleasure on Guam. She had found a need and filled it. “Ernie's Hide-Away” resembles Charlie's Hide-Away, a favorite restaurant and watering hole for B-52 guys.

Merelyn accurately describes life back home. Wives were close. They helped each other cope and took care of the ones who turned to alcohol or other men. She lived through the panic when an airplane was lost and the blue station wagons cruised through the housing areas, carrying the Chaplain and a senior officer to the home of the new widow.

[wyntrout]

Okay, I grabbed a few free books put them in Calibre and Kindle Fire. But how in the dickens do I get them to show up in "Kindle for PC"?

I got a cheapie 7" tablet with Android's latest version and installed Kindle on it. I bought some books and downloaded them. I can't get the Kindle on the tablet to load the new books. I just have two from previous times available. I put them in the Kindle folder on my memory card, but they don't show up???

I haven't had the time to play with this new tablet, but I'll figure it out some day! I did have the garage sale and didn't get rid of the large items, so I still have to spend a bunch of time trying to rearrange storage. Hoarding/collecting with some neatness is HARD... especially if you're lazy and a procrastinator!:rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[getsome]

I am currently reading a fantastic book titled "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand who also wrote Seabiscuit...The book is about a WWII Airman and bombardier on a B-24 named Louis Zamperini who is now 93 and sharp as a tack...He was interviewed by Jay Leno recently and his story made me have to read this book...

His plane went down in the Pacific in 1943 and he and two other crewmen one of whom died spent several weeks adrift in the open ocean fighting sharks, starvation, dehydration and Japanese planes until they finally made land only to be captured by Japanese soldiers and sent to a prison camp for two years and endured torture from a tyrannical sadistic Japanese prison guard who picked on Zamperini because he couldn't break his will...(This book will make you want to shoot holes in your Toyota, Honda or anything else Japanese made)...

In the end Zamperini made peace with the whole thing after spending many years in search for the guard for revenge...He found the Lord and forgave his tormentors for all they did to him....This is a great book and a true story and I highly recommend it...

[OldLincoln]

Wynn, The secret I found is to double click the book file and it should open in K4PC. The files need to in mobi or azw or azw3 file suffix. K4PC will add them and a couple other files to it's own folder so if space runs short you can remove you original files.

Let us know how that works out.

[OldLincoln]

Okay action fans.... Just finished a Kindle eBook (Free right now) called Hammerhead by Jason Andrew Bond. This is a terrific action book that is impossibly well written for a first time offering, but it is.

You simply have to get it while it's free even if you don't have a Kindle. You can read it online at the Kindle site, download the Kindle for PC (K4PC) application, of use your Kindle. Of course if you have K4PC you can convert it into other reader formats after you remove the DRM control.

Get it here: Hammerhead (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IR0N70/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title)

[O'Dell]

I'm currently reading "Lightning Strike" about the mission against Yamamoto. I bought the book 2 or 3 years ago and just got to it. I wondered how the author could write 400 pages on one mission, but it's turned out to be a biography on every one concerned.

I knew that Yamamoto was an Americaphile, went to Harvard, and spent a lot of time here. I didn't know he was an ace bridge and poker player and loved baseball and college football. He understood America better than anyone else in Japan. He said in a lecture at the Japanese Naval Academy where he taught in the twenties, "Japan can never defeat America, so we should never fight them". While attending a Naval Conference in London in 1937, he took a tour of Europe and snubbed an invitation to meet with Hitler. Just a few months before the Pearl Harbor strike, he told reporters in Japan that it was impossible to defeat the United States and that the Imperial Navy could not beat the US Navy. However, his loyalty to his country and his dislike for General Tojo, later Prime Minister and War Secretary, compelled him to fight the war. Tojo said after a brief visit to the US that America was soft and militarily unimportant. Obviously, Yamamoto had it correct.

[PYROhafe]

Just found this thread, and thought ide mention (didnt read through all the posts) I finished "The Overton Window" by Glenn Beck not too long ago, and thought it was a well written, and eye opening book.
Has anyone read "The Founders Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" by Stephen Halbrook? Thought about giving it a read....

[gb6491]

Here are a couple of sites with some free e-books (some on the second site do require remittance):
http://history-world.org/Free%20E-Books.htm
http://www.web-books.com/
Regards,
Greg

[MrToad]

While vacation in the islands north of Seattle last month, my father and some of his rowing friends introduced me to Undaunted Courage (http://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976) by Stephen Ambrose. This is a fascinating account of the events leading up to and the opening of the American West by the Lewis & Clark expedition and is a great read. Shines a spotlight on an area that seems far too murky in current society, the period between the end of the Revolution and just before the War of 1812.

Though, one of Ambrose's observations caught my attention, that the speed of thought was only as fast as a horse at that time. Watching the Olympics in London drove home the point that I could observe (assuming no artificial delays) "live" activities as they happened in London whereas John Jay signing a treaty on behalf of Thomas Jefferson would have taken weeks to get across the ocean.

[jeepster09]

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sergeant-rex-mike-dowling/1104099552


4 paws up! Great book.
Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog

[7shot]

I wish I had time to read (always some type of Military read) but with work, kids, pistol practice, work, kids...well you get it, I just can't seem to find the time to actually read a book. So what I've done is on my way to and from work I listen to audio-books, here are my latest listens: We Were One, by Patrict K O'Donnell, RoughNeck Nine One, by Frank Antenon, Horse Soldiers, by Doug Stanton, and Generation Kill, by Evan Wright.

Currently I'm listening to Lone Survivor: The Eye Account of Operation Redwing and Lost Heros of Seal Team 10, by Marcus Luttrell. this is really good so far. All I can say is these are some really well trained MF's going out in BF Afganistan and fighting. Total studs...

[Tinman507]

Lone Survivor is an awesome book. Some seriously brave souls in our military.
God Bless them.

[johnh]

Thanks to the fellows here who suggested the Ashes series. I meant to try them out a while back and forgot. I have enjoyed listening to them while I do monotonous tech support at work. :)

[OldLincoln]

New term for the day: "Gunpowder Society"

[wyntrout]

Here's a post that I just made under the RKBA Sub-Forum about Veteran and author Michael Z. Williamson:


http://www.baen.com/GettingGunsRight.asp

One of my favorite SciFi authors.

http://www.baen.com/images/Mike.jpg
Michael Z. Williamson

From the post of his article:

"Michael Z. Williamson is retired from the U.S. military, having served twenty-five years in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. He was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Desert Fox. Williamson is a state-ranked competitive shooter in combat rifle and combat pistol. He has consulted on military matters, weapons and disaster preparedness for Discovery Channel and Outdoor Channel productions and is Editor-at-Large for Survivalblog, with 300,000 weekly readers. In addition, Williamson tests and reviews firearms and gear for manufacturers. Williamson’s books set in his Freehold Universe (http://www.baenebooks.com/c-132-freehold-series-by-michael-z-williamson.aspx) include Freehold, Better to Beg Forgiveness, and Do Unto Others, and latest entry When Diplomacy Fails (http://www.baenebooks.com/p-1640-when-diplomacy-fails.aspx)."

I've read them all and just finished his e-book Rogue which is available at Baen.com DRM-free for $6.00!! Some of his works are in the FREE Library there.

Wynn:)

[wyntrout]

Dang! my wife and I watched Safe last night On Demand at home... pretty good... very much like Jason Statham's Transporter series... LOTS of action.

I see that Taken 2 is coming out October 5th. I can't wait until I can watch THAT at home!

Wynn:D

[Charlie]

Vince Flynn

[wyntrout]

Yeah, I've thought about him... maybe some day.

Wynn:)

[MW surveyor]

Reading "Term Limits" right now. Hard to put down.

[Planedude]

I just started Brad Thor's "Black List". Interesting in a "what if kind" of way...

[OldLincoln]

I finished "Shogun" last night (well around 1am today) having started it Monday. As were the "Pillars of the Earth" books, I was really into this and kept pushing it late into the night looking for a good place to set it down till morning.

I also got into the Ashes series a while back now but had to put those down for a while. They're like the Jack Reacher, Cotton Malone, Dirk Pitt, Honor Harrington, Lt. Leary series. Same story different town/planet/etc. Problem is I like the characters so I read several books in the series before taking a good break. That's 26 Ashes, 6 Cotton Malones, 10-12 Dirk Pitt, 13 Honor Harrington, and several other from paper books.

Then dozens of lessor books, well over 300 in the past year. Love the free ebooks found through http://www.ereaderiq.com/free/

[O'Dell]

I finished "Shogun" last night (well around 1am today) having started it Monday. As were the "Pillars of the Earth" books, I was really into this and kept pushing it late into the night looking for a good place to set it down till morning.

I also got into the Ashes series a while back now but had to put those down for a while. They're like the Jack Reacher, Cotton Malone, Dirk Pitt, Honor Harrington, Lt. Leary series. Same story different town/planet/etc. Problem is I like the characters so I read several books in the series before taking a good break. That's 26 Ashes, 6 Cotton Malones, 10-12 Dirk Pitt, 13 Honor Harrington, and several other from paper books.

Then dozens of lessor books, well over 300 in the past year. Love the free ebooks found through http://www.ereaderiq.com/free/

I've found the Cussler books, including the Dirk Pitt series, are a reasonably good read when you want a book you can finish in two days and don't want to think too much. His heroes do pull off some fantastic saves, though. I just finished 'Corsair' a couple of days ago and am now deep into a Lincoln Child book, which does require some thought.

[OldLincoln]

Which Lincoln Child book?

I've read many Cussler books as I have Stephen Coonts. Actually I think it was Stephen Coonts (no relation to that Dean Koonts) and his Jake Grafton series that got me hooked on reading.

What made it so good was the series follows Jake through his career so the character is always developing. If you read them it helps to do so in the character's chrono order as they weren't all written that way.

I just finished another Ashes and have a Brad Thor queued up ("Lion of Lucerne").

[O'Dell]

Which Lincoln Child book?

I've read many Cussler books as I have Stephen Coonts. Actually I think it was Stephen Coonts (no relation to that Dean Koonts) and his Jake Grafton series that got me hooked on reading.

What made it so good was the series follows Jake through his career so the character is always developing. If you read them it helps to do so in the character's chrono order as they weren't all written that way.

I just finished another Ashes and have a Brad Thor queued up ("Lion of Lucerne").

His latest, I think, The Third Gate. I liked Coonts's Flight of the Intruder and The Intruders. That's the aircraft he flew, so he knew it well. For me, the others were just okay. I really liked Larry Bond's first three books, but after that he got into terrorism, a subject I don't enjoy reading about. Gerry Carroll wrote two good Viet Nam air combat books. [he even included one of the stunts I pulled but didn't give me credit] For ground combat Harold Coyle was a tank officer and his first five or six books are excellent. I have all of these and many, many more in hardback that I have collected over the years.

[OldLincoln]

I read "Relic" and "Terminal Freeze", both of which were good but not really my thing. The combo are my sons favorite author tho, next to Louis L'Amour.

[wyntrout]

I finished David Weber's Fire Season last week... Baen e-book for $6. Stepanie is a Harrington and her treecat is missing a "true hand". They for sure aren't Honor and her 'cat, but I'm not sure what the family relationship is. The first book was an extension of an earlier published short story and the second book here is a little different in style and both are pretty juvenile. I think the "helper writer" detracted a bit with "teen" grammar.

The site is in amintenance until 5am or so, but I found this snippet:

"To celebrate the release of Fire Season (http://www.baenebooks.com/p-1687-fire-season.aspx), the second entry in David Weber’s groundbreaking Star Kingdom series featuring Honor Harrington’s teen ancestor, Stephanie Harrington and her treecat companion Climbs Quickly,"

I got Fire Season as a package deal of the month of 7 books for $18. I wanted 3 of the books at $6 each, so that WAS a deal... featured on the site. One of the seven is Heinlein's Starman Jones.

http://www.baen.com/

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Have you read his Empire of Man series? I liked those best of all his I've read. This series of 4 must be read in order to really get them. The series has John Ringo as co-author and he definitely had a solid role as they are different than any other Weber books I've read.

[wyntrout]

You must be talking about the March Upcountry and the other 3 about Prince Roger. This was a 4-book series by Weber and Ringo. It was very good! I was waiting for the books to be written and printed!

I wonder what happened to Hell's Gate and the second, Hell Hath No Fury? I've been waiting years now for any word of a book three. It was a series just getting going!

I need to see about three new books by CJ Cherryh, Weber, and Ringo... continuations of series that I've been following. I hope I can get them cheaply... hopefully at Baen.com. I'm going to check... got my list.

Wynn:D

[OldLincoln]

Looks like it will be awhile yet according to the post below:

Gavin (http://forums.davidweber.net/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=2225)
Midshipman
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 9:24 am
I'm the person who wrote to them and got an official reply to this question posted in the FAQ, Check it out.

In short, nothing started yet, first opportunity to get together is after September 2012 :-(

Apparently (not in the FAQ, but was in the reply I received) the Multiverse books were not good sellers although David does like the story. I guess it is a business decision that pushes this series back as a priority :-(
============================================

It has been a spell since I've been to Baen so was pleasantly surprised to see all the Weber freebies there. Snagged the latest 6.

[wyntrout]

Was the "Roger" series what you were asking me about? That one was pretty interesting and funny, too.

Just Wiki'd:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Weber

With John Ringo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ringo)

Empire of Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_of_Man) series.

March Upcountry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_Upcountry) (May 2001) ISBN 0-671-31985-X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/067131985X)
March to the Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_to_the_Sea_%28novel%29) (November 2002) ISBN 0-671-31826-8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0671318268)
March to the Stars (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_to_the_Stars) (January 2003) ISBN 0-7434-3562-1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0743435621)
We Few (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Few) (April 2005) ISBN 0-7434-9881-X (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/074349881X)



Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Yeah I liked them all. Sigh... so many authors, so many books, so little time. In the meantime I'm reading a few short treasure adventure books to "cleanse my palette."

[PYROhafe]

Just finished reading Last of the Breed by L'amour, and just wanted to say thanks for recommending an excellent read! Now I cant decide if I want to find another of his to read (any suggestions?) or if I want to rummage through the 21 pages of chatter on this thread and find another suggestion from you guys. decisions decisions! Thanks for pointing out some great reads! All I did was walk into my local new/used book store ( I always like to buy used if I can) with phone in hand, with this thread pulled up and found some good comments on the L'amour book, so asked if they had that one, and walked out with a like new, used copy.

[johnh]

Another vote here for Empire of Man. I really enjoyed them. It would have been interesting to see the story extend further.

Did anyone mention Richard K. Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs trilogy? Altered Carbon in particular remains one of my favorite books.

[wyntrout]

The EOM is a rollicking good series with lots of humor. I love that kind of series. It leaves you wanting more, though.

I used to read all of Keith Laumer's Retief books, but kind of got away from them a few years ago.

There are a lot of funny series for free on Baen.com... well, some free and others for sale at $5-6.

Dave Freer writes funny stuff. http://www.baenebooks.com/p-336-rats-bats-and-vats.aspx

He also wrote Pyramid Scheme and Pyramid Power, Dragon's Ring and Dog and Dragon.

Thanksgiving, I'm carrying this past years' books up to my Ex to read and will give her my "old" tablet that I bought for about $99 delivered, because many of my more recent books are electronic and some series are part e-book and part hard/paperback.

I bought that tablet to play with until the Nexus 7 came out. I got the 16GB version and have done a LOT of reading on it. I need more ebooks to come out! I'm reading my second paperback in the last week... Richard Marcinco's Domino Theory. I'm a lont-time Rogue Warrior fan.:) Before that, I read Stephen Coonts' Deep Black: Arctic Gold... for the second time... accidentally. I have the next two after that, but had forgotten exactly how AG ended, so went ahead and re-read it!:rolleyes:

Wynn:D

[OldLincoln]

Anybody hear of Michael R. Hicks? I just today finished "First Contact" and gave it 5 stars. I will never understand how some people can write in a way that keeps you so glued to your seat while coloring in all the details. I've read books that do one or the other, but few that do both.

Hicks writes in series, probably to get them released sooner, and book 2 picks up where book 1 leaves off. People aren't very sure of the order to read his books, so neither the titles, pub date, nor recommendations are definitive. Since these stories follow people as the develop and age I prefer to read the the character's chronological order.

I'm reading them as follows:
1. Series: In Her Name:The Last War
.............As it says, human's come across "The Empire" and trouble begins.
...... First Contact
...... Legend of the Sword
...... Dead Soul
2. Series: In Her Name: Redemption
.............. Picks up long after the trouble started
...... Empire
...... Confederation
...... Last Battle
3: Series: In Her Name: First Empire
............... Where it all really started but only 1 book out so far.
...... From Chaos Born
...... [Not Published Yet]
...... [Not Published Yet]

A lot of the story is out there so don't read too much or you'll be looking for stuff to happen.

PS: Please sticky this thread

[Bawanna]

As you wish, your wish is my desire.

[jocko]

OK, I have had enough. I wanna be in the literaly club, Where do I sign up??? I wold like to start out alittle slow though, likeviewing and certainly reading the first 500 issues of Playboy. I know I will learn sumpin there, They I wanna move up to Penthouse.. I know I wll learn alot there. are dues expensive??? Will I go tohell if I read them and not look at the pictures???

tellme Great one, asI seek ur advice as u are a literaly genius in his own right..Just sayin

[OldLincoln]

Thank you sir.

[OldLincoln]

Okay, wow! I think I'll take tomorrow off from reading if I can make myself stay away. I posted #209 at 3PM today then dove into book 2 "Legend of the Sword" and except for coming up for tinkle breaks and some food, have been fighting a war somewhere in space since. I just finished "Legend" at 302 pages but will not start Book 3 "Dead Soul" tomorrow if I can help myself. Hope my wife is still talking to me.

This is good stuff if, it suits your fancy. I much prefer reading about space battles and "people?" then about politics.

[wyntrout]

I was looking through the AT&T U-Verse channels last night and found John Carter of Mars just starting. It was kind of okay, but they certainly only used a tiny bit of the FIVE books and jumbled them together into an unrecognizable and compressed short story. It wasn't a total waste of two plus hours. I downloaded the e-books for free and read them when the movie came out. "Based on the book"... very loosely!

And, The Last of the Breed is maybe the only one of L'amour's books that I read, but I really liked it. In fact, after we discussed it here... way back... I dug up the book and re-read most of it. I did have two copies of the paperback. :rolleyes:

Wynn:)

[OldLincoln]

Okay, I got "A Princess of Mars" (Carter #1) by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but can't start that until I finish the books I have to date by Michael R. Hicks. I just fail to grasp how an author can formulate story after story that folded together are seamless to the larger concept and at the same time pull you so deep into each book to where you don't even realize time going by.

I am on the 7th and last written to date (2 more to follow) of the "In Her Name" series. I tell myself I will stop reading a the first break point after 8PM but then keep going until my eyes hurt hours later. I still have 267 books on my system to read but paid good money to get this last book - he's that good.

I have to say if you are a Sifi fan you have to try one of his books and if you like that one you will be hooked. The good thing is he puts up some of the first books in a series for free on his web site http://authormichaelhicks.com/ in multiple formats.